The company plans to open 20 new stores by July 30, 2005 and hasexpects to open 30 to 40 new locations a year over the next severalyears, company officials say. The firm's new women's only storesaverage approximately 3,500 sf, while the combined men's andwomen's locations total approximately 4,500 sf.

Company officials say that the firm's real estate strategy is totarget small town markets with low occupancy and operating costs.The firm also looks to locate new stores in strip malls nearbig-box retail outlets.

This month, Maurices will open a store in Perryville, MO, onNov. 20 and will turn the key for the first time at four locationsa week later in: Bluffton, IN; Chubbuck, ID; Florence, AL; andMooresville, NC. In December, the company will open locations in:Detroit Lakes, MN; Gainesville, GA; Huntington, IN; Kenton, OH;Oswego, NY; Price, UT; and Schenectady, NY. A company spokesman hadno details on whether there would be any store closings inconnection with the purchase.