Hardwood floors, soft lighting and a wide selection of unique women's clothing make Chico's stores comfortable and appealing.

Chico's Spreads Style Across The Southeast

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: Nineteen years ago, on Sanibel Island in Florida, an 800-square-foot clothing store specializing in women's clothing and accessories opened its doors to the public. 

Today that retailer, known as Chico's, operates more than 250 stores in 39 states across America.  Headquartered in Fort Meyers, Florida, the company is a specialty retailer of exclusively designed clothing and accessories for the 30-to-60-year-old professional woman.  Almost all of the clothing is designed in-house, and bears the Chico's label and trademark.

Brett Womack, principal of Divaris Real Estate's Richmond office, represents Chico's in its search for new sites throughout Hampton Roads, Greater Richmond, Fredericksburg, and the western part of Virginia, and West Virginia.  She has also brokered transactions for stores throughout the Carolinas in Raleigh's Cameron Village; Birkdale Town Center in the Lake Norman area of North Charlotte; Stonecrest at Piper Glen in South Charlotte; Mayfair Town Center in Charleston, North Carolina; and Mount Pleasant Town Center, in South Carolina.  Womack also recently secured a site for the first Chico's in Richmond, at River Road II, a high-end specialty center in Richmond's West End.    The store will open in early Fall, 2001. 

In Chico's Fiscal 2000/2001 Annual Report, Chico's CEO, Marvin

On April 11, 2001, Chico's was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  Marvin Gralnick, CEO (center, with wife and co-founder, Helene) says that this move is expected to "help stabilize the stock, maximize stockholder value and improve visibility in the investment community."

Gralnick, who founded the company with his wife Helene, says,  "We're committed more than ever to maintaining our focus on the customer." 
Walk into any Chico's, and you'll see that for yourself.  Located in upscale malls or lifestyle centers, each store is made to make the shopper feel comfortable.  With its pleasing décor of hardwood floors, soft lighting, easy chairs, and of course, the beautiful array of colorful clothing and accessories, customers are treated to an extraordinary shopping experience. 

Brett Robinson, director of real estate for Chico's says it's definitely the merchandise that puts them ahead of the competition.  "Our merchants do an outstanding job at determining what our customers want."
Robinson states, "We'd like to secure additional locations in Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia." Currently, Womack is working with Chico's to actively pursue sites in Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia.