Canadian Retailer Opening Two DC-Area Stores This Week
By Christina sturdivant-Sani August 7, 2018 7:30 pm
reprints
Canada-based retail chain Roots is opening two shops in the Washington, D.C., region this week.
The brand, which sells apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories, is opening a 3,550-square-foot store in Georgetown at 3259 M St NW on Aug. 9, according to the Washington Business Journal, which first reported on the news. And, a 3,200-square-foot outpost inside of Arlington, Va.’s Fashion Centre at Pentagon City at 1100 S Hayes is opening on Aug. 11.
A Roots spokeswoman would not disclose the lease terms of the leases.
The Georgetown store will feature a workshop where customers can personalize leather bags, fitting rooms decorated with regional landscapes and a lounge that will highlight the company’s history, according to a company press release.
Roots first store opening in Toronto, Canada in 1973. Its footprint includes 116 company-owned stores in Canada, 110 partner-operated stores in Taiwan, 32 partner-operated stores in China and a handful of company-owned stores in the U.S.
Roots President and CEO Jim Gabel said in a prepared statement that he hopes to open 10 to 14 new U.S. locations by the end of 2019.
“We are confident our inclusive lifestyle brand with its legendary feel, will resonate well with U.S. customers,” Gabel said. “With a growing retail footprint and an e-commerce platform that ships to all 50 states, we are increasingly able to bring our iconic Roots brand to a broader base of customers across America.”
Long term, Gabel said, “we believe the U.S. represents a minimum 100-store market opportunity for us.”
