), formerly known as Big Dog Holdings, is opening a flagship Walking Company store (its core comfort footwear brand) at 551 Madison Ave in New York City. The new store will feature a modern store design and an "integrated comfort technology system" of "foot analysis" stations. The Midtown/Plaza District store is scheduled to open April 2009 at the base of the 17-story office tower. According to CoStar Tenant, the leased space is 3,135 square feet. The Walking Company has stated it sees potential to operate a 500-store chain in the U.S. -- It had 191 stores open as of March 31, 2008.
This article appeared in CoStar's Retail News Roundup: July 20 to 26, 2008. The Roundup is a weekly column covering retail store expansions, closings, bankruptcies, acquisitions/mergers/sales, new retail developments, personnel changes, sustainability, and more. This week in the Retail Roundup, CoStar reports on expansions or new concepts at Supervalu/Jewel-Osco, The Walking Company, and Dairy Queen/Orange Julius; new retail developments in Las Vegas, NV and Santa Monica, CA acquisition, merger, loan or sale activity at Trademark Property Co, Coach, General Growth Properties, DLC Management, Macerich, and Dave & Buster's; closings, cutbacks or bankruptcies at Shoe Pavilion and Mervyn's; personnel announcements at Developers Diversified Realty and Benihana; sustainability at Talbert Development; and more.