Wednesday, March 28, 2001
|
Wednesday, March 28, 2001 |
|
World Market opens, while Joann etc builds new store
It's going to be a busy year for shoppers this year. Cost Plus World Market will celebrate the grand opening of its new Fayetteville store Thursday at 9 a.m. The new store, in the Fayette Pavilion, marks the retailer's third store in the Atlanta area and 131st store nationwide. Cost Plus World Market, opening at 240 Pavilion Parkway, will offer a uniquely different shopping experience, according to the company, featuring an ever-changing array of home decor, tabletop accessories, decorative gifts, gourmet foods and beverages, imported from 50 countries around the world. "The exciting combination of competitively priced international home furnishings with gourmet food and wine has proven a great recipe for success," said Murray Dashe, the firm's chairman, president and CEO. The new Fayetteville store will have 16,000 square feet of selling space filled with international treasures including handcrafted iron candlesticks from India, 18 varieties of olive oil, 500 different wines, handcarved masks from Ghana, recycled wood furniture from Indonesia, handmade birdhouses, unique kitchen utensils and handpainted ceramics from Italy. "Cost Plus World Market's buyers have a heightened sense of adventure and curiosity. They travel the world visiting remote villages, centuries old factories and covered bazaars searching for unusual and unique products to bring home to our customers," said Dashe. "Baskets from Indonesia, chocolates from Belgium and pottery from Italy are just a few of the items that take our customers on an adventure through the store where they will find special treasures to fit their homes and personalities." The company was founded in 1958 when a San Francisco businessman blended his passion for travel and retailing by selling shiploads of imported wicker he discovered during his travels through Asia. Meanwhile, a lease has been signed for a 42,000-sq. ft. Jo-Ann etc store in Fayetteville,. The store will be at Fayette Pavilion off Pavilion Parkway. Construction began in November 2000 and an August 2001 opening is anticipated. Other stores in the Pavilion include Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Dekor. The new store will be the first in Fayetteville. There are five other Jo-Ann etc stores in Georgia, all in the Greater Atlanta area. In addition, there are 12 traditional Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts stores of approximately 15,000 square feet each in Georgia. Jo-Ann etc is the company's newest brand, with stores three times larger than traditional fabric and craft stores, featuring expanded fabric and crafting products, a full schedule of educational programs and new custom services side by side in a creative setting. "The Jo-Ann etc concept is designed as an entertainment destination for sewing, craft and home décor enthusiasts through samplings, displays, demonstrations and classes and workshops for people of all ages and experience levels," said Alan Rosskamm, president and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores Inc. "It's an exciting concept for fabric and craft enthusiasts in a megastore setting, a first in this $11 billion sewing and craft industry." The first Jo-Ann etc store opened in late 1995 next to the parent company headquarters in Hudson, Ohio. There are 58 stores nationwide, with 12 scheduled to open in 2001. Jo-Ann Stores Inc., based in Hudson, currently operates more than 1,000 stores nationwide under the names Jo-Ann etc and Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. The publicly traded parent company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as JAS.A and JAS.B. The company's Web site address is www.joann.com. |
Back to the top of the page