Forth & Towne Adds Markets

In Seattle, the first store is expected to open in October at Pacific Place, followed by a store at Alderwood scheduled to open in November. In Houston, the first Forth & Towne is expected to open in September at the Galleria, followed by a store at Market Street in the Woodlands in October. The Atlanta stores will open at Perimeter Mall and The Avenue Webb Gin and the Avenue East Cobb.

Gary Muto, president of Forth & Towne, calls Seattle's retail scene "booming" and says that the company chose "two distinct shopping environments" for its new stores. Pacific Place is a downtown location, and Alderwood is a suburban lifestyle center. Pacific Place features retail, restaurant and entertainment options that draw shoppers from neighborhoods throughout the city and tourists worldwide, Muto notes. He says that Forth & Towne will join a strong mix of high profile fashion tenants at Pacific Place.

Alderwood features more than 200 major retailers, boutiques and restaurants. Located 15 miles north of Seattle, it serves Seattle's affluent, rapidly growing northern suburbs including Millcreek, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Woodinville and Kirkland.

In Houston, Forth & Towne also chose diverse locations. The recently renovated and expanded Galleria occupies an urban development of stores, restaurants, hotels and office towers. The Woodlands, which opened in November 2004, is a Main Street-styled shopping and entertainment destination with exclusive shops and boutiques, restaurants, a central park and office space.

In Atlanta, the Perimeter Mall features retailers as well as entertainment and dining, while the Avenue East Cobb and the Avenue Webb Gin are open-air specialty retail centers. The Avenue Webb Gin is set to open this August, and the Avenue East Cobb plans to unveil an expansion this fall that will house Forth & Towne, among other retailers.

Forth & Towne announced plans earlier this year to open in five new markets this fall: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco/San Jose and Seattle. The brand, which debuted last August, expects to open 12 stores in the new markets.