THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408110572
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
The five Bootlegger discount shoe stores in Hampton Roads and four in the Richmond area will be renamed Hofheimers Express by Aug. 15. The stores also will be fitted with more top-brand footwear, company officials said Wednesday.
As part of the makeover, the company will open a new Express store in Colonial Heights and convert four or five traditional Hofheimers shoe stores to Express.
All Express stores will have ``open shelving,'' allowing customers to grab shoe boxes without asking a salesperson. They also will carry a number of brands that weren't available at Bootlegger stores.
``In opening Hofheimers Express, we are responding to customer preferences for open shelving while retaining the exceptional customer service that is an essential part of Hofheimers' reputation,'' said Aubrey Layne, president of Chesapeake-based Hofheimers.
Hofheimers has been on the move since emerging from a sale in bankruptcy court about two years ago.
Hofheimers, which has 68 stores mainly in Virginia and North Carolina, also operates Stride Rite Bootery, which specializes in children's shoes. by CNB