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2005 : AMERICAN APPAREL TO OPEN STORES IN LINCOLN PARK AND LAKEVIEW Baum Realty Group Negotiates The Transactions May 19, 2005 One of the fastest-growing consumer apparel brands in the United States is continuing its Chicago market rollout. American Apparel, known for making all of its garments in a sweatshop-free environment in its downtown Los Angeles factory, has signed leases for two new stores in the popular Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods. Janika Brenner of Baum Realty Group, American Apparel's Chicago broker, represented the retailer in these transactions. The Lincoln Park landlord was represented by Jacqueline Hayes of Jacqueline Hayes & Associates. Dale Strauss of Wooddale Partners, the Lakeview landlord, represented himself. The vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and retailer of T-shirts and related apparel is scheduled to open a 2,500-square-foot store at 837 W. Armitage Ave. (Lincoln Park) in June. Its new 5,000-square-foot Lakeview location, at 3126 N. Broadway, is scheduled to open later this summer. During the past 11 months, American Apparel has opened Chicago locations on Walton Street just off Michigan Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue in the trendy Bucktown neighborhood, as well as in Evanston, Ill. These latest transactions bring its total Chicago area store count to five. Each store carries clothing and accessories for men, women, children and even dogs. American Apparel clothes are directed primarily at the youth market, but classic styles like the T-shirts are universal and appeal to all age brackets. "American Apparel has been very pleased with the response from Chicagoans to their first three stores in the market," said Baum Realty Group's Janika Brenner. "Customers have even gone so far as to request stores in specific neighborhoods – Lincoln Park and Lakeview were high on the list. We are confident these two new locations will be a success for the company. "The company has established a new way of doing business that has been extremely successful without exploiting workers. Chicagoans can feel proud to buy products that are high quality and hip, yet also socially responsible," said Brenner. *** The American Apparel line consists of over 3,800 SKUs and is considered the largest stocked T-shirt line in the country. By infusing a high-level of fashion into an everyday wardrobe item, the T-shirt, American Apparel has responded to the new consumer youth market without compromising its ethical business practices in manufacturing. Its business model represents the new industrial revolution; by leveraging art, technology and design, rather than exploiting cheap labor, the company proves to be more profitable and productive than its offshore competition. American Apparel is dedicated to paying its employees a living wage and to continually expand its employee programs and environmental policies, while striving to produce the best in quality and design. |
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1030 W. Chicago Avenue :: Suite 200 :: Chicago, IL :: 60642 :: P: 312.666.3000 :: F: 312.666.7970 :: info@baumrealty.com |
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