Total sales for Famous Footwear were just under $292.7 million,a gain of 2.2% for the quarter, which ended July 29. Earningsjumped to $11.9 million, from $9.3 million. During the period, thecompany opened 28 stores and closed 17. For the fiscal year,management plans to open 90 new units and close 40.

Other than the athletic category, executives say sales were upin all other areas, with children's departments leading the way. Sofar this current quarter, athletic-shoe sales are reportedlyperforming better, getting a boost from the back-to-schoolseason.

Brown Shoe's specialty chain of 305 stores, mostly under theNaturalizer banner, posted a 2.7% same-store sales drop. Sandalsales particularly hurt the chains. "Our Canadian business on astore-for-store basis is where we saw the biggest drop," said RonFromm, Brown Shoe's chairman and chief executive officer, duringthe company's quarterly conference call. The specialty divisionopened one new store and closed eight during Brown Shoe's Q1.