No items found.

In The News: The Athlete’s Foot Owner Buys Shoe City, Bob’s & EMS Sold, Wilson Opens NYC Store, Texworld Footwear Sourcing

Share:

Arklyz Group, a European business focused on sports, lifestyle, athleisure, and workwear that acquired The Athlete’s Foot in 2021, last week announced its acquisition of 70-year-old Shoe City, a Baltimore-based sneaker and streetwear lifestyle chain for an undisclosed price. The Switzerland-based parent intends to add Shoe City and its 40+ store Mid-Atlantic locations into the TAF organization and complete an integration by July. Shoe City’s online platform is www.ycmc.com. Matthew Lafone has been named president and general manager of the Americas to oversee the businesses.  


Frasers Group, the U.K.-based owner of various retail banners on each side of the Atlantic, last week sold U.S. retailers Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports to GoDigital Media for $70 million. The two retailers were acquired out of bankruptcy court in April 2017 for $101 million. While GoDigital is a media company focused on IP rights management, Bob’s and EMS combined continue to operate 40 stores in the U.S. Northeast.


Wilson Sporting Goods has opened its second New York City store on the Upper East Side following the debut of its flagship in SoHo. A third Big Apple location in the Columbus Circle neighborhood will open later this month as well pop-up stores in key locations over the summer. Also, Wilson will debut a pop-up shop at the U.S. Open in August.


Texworld New York City announced a new partnership with Material Exchange and the Footwear Distributors & Retailers Association to increase footwear sourcing opportunities. The partnership includes the addition of a new footwear components showcase, Global Footwear Sourcing, to debut this July at the Javits Center alongside Texworld NYC. Global Footwear Sourcing will feature a wide range of shoe material components. Product categories include leather, synthetic, laces, insole, outsole, webbing and ribbon, thread and yarn, and hardware. Exhibitors will be represented in-person as well as through Material Exchange's digital marketplace.


Obituary: Robert Malcolm “Don” Munro, founder of Munro and Company shoes, died on April 27. He was 94. Born in Newton, MA, Don graduated from Yale, and later served in the Army, where he was editor of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. He moved to Hot Springs, AR, with his wife Barbara and their four children (the fifth came along in 1963) in 1959, establishing a shoe manufacturing facility that in 1975, became Munro & Company, Inc. In its prime, Munro was one of the largest privately held shoe manufacturers in the U.S. In addition to his business accomplishments, he was known for his philanthropic endeavors. Read more about Don’s life here.