Express, an apparel retailer with 573 stores that targets menand women in their 20s, looks to raise $200 million in plans to go public. Aspart of its strategy, the Columbus, OH-based retailer is in theworks to open 30 stores annually in North America over the nextfive years.The move follows the IPO of Rue21, another apparelconcept geared toward both sexes in their teens, albeit that chain has more ambitious growth plans. Andobservers expect more retail public offerings in 2010.In the caseof Express, sales were down 4.7% during the nine months ended Oct.31, totaling $1.2 billion. However, the chain did postearnings of $29.3 million, up from a $1.9-million loss in the sameyear-ago period.We're sure that retail landlords are happy aboutthis news, especially after the recent announcement thatJones Apparel is closing 166 stores this year. But wewould assume that openings by Express and Rue21 probably aren'tmaking up for all of the holes left behind by recent storeclosures.ALSO:If Simon Property Gets Its Way, It Could Be Monopoly in theMalls

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