LIHU‘E — First, they had to move all of the inventory into a new space while the original location was renovated. Then, they had to move all of that inventory back to the original location. Finally, the Kukui Grove Center
LIHU‘E — First, they had to move all of the inventory into a new space while the original location was renovated.
Then, they had to move all of that inventory back to the original location.
Finally, the Kukui Grove Center Foot Locker location is open, and permanent.
The Foot Locker store occupies the space adjacent to Pictures Plus at Kukui Grove and, following an extensive remodeling, is back in the original location with an expanded lineup in almost all offerings.
During the time remodeling was being done, Foot Locker never left the mall, operating instead from a temporary location near Zales Jewelers.
Patrick Bearis, Foot Locker store manager for Kukui Grove, said they were closed for just about a day while their displays and merchandise was moved from their temporary location back to the new store.
The new Foot Locker now offers approximately 1,100 square feet of merchandise-display space, an increase of over 400 square feet from their previous store.
This increased merchandising area provides customers with more windbreaker choices, more NBA, NFL and other logo wear, more hats, caps, and visors, Bearis noted.
Of course, in the area of footwear, which is the focus of Foot Locker, the new space allows for an expanded offering of women’s and children’s shoes, he added.
The offering of men’s shoes has also been expanded, but not to the extent of the women’s and children’s selections, he said.
Additionally, the layout has changed, so the men’s offerings are now located on the wall adjacent to Pictures Plus. They used to be on the Macy’s side of the store.
The value lines are still available for customers, Bearis said, pointing out the five-for-$20 T-shirts and three-for-$20 polo shirts.
Some of the changes are not visible to the customers, Bearis pointed out, but have been done to provide even better service.
One of these changes is from fixed shelving to mobile shelves in the stock room, which allows more stock to be shelved in a smaller area.
Another change which allows for more merchandise to be displayed is the relocation of the familiar television sets to special overhead mounts attached to the ceiling, thereby opening up needed wall space for more items.
Many of the changes in the Kukui Grove store are now state-of-the-art Foot Locker modifications, Bearis said, pointing out that this is one of the first stores to receive the modifications designed for greater customer benefit.
Kellie Montemayor, one of the clerks in the store, is pleased with the additional offerings for women, losing little time in extracting some pink athletic footwear.
Foot Locker has always taken an interest in local sporting events. Montemayor, for example, is a coach for the Waimea High School girls’ junior-varsity basketball team, joining her dad and brother who coach the Menehune varsity girls’ basketball team.
Alaric Villatora, another clerk, was a member of the Kaua‘i High School baseball team, Bearis noted.
Bearis, an alumni of Campbell High School on O‘ahu, has never lost his ties with the high-school sporting community.
The manager is always anxious to know when off-island teams arrive on Kaua‘i to compete with local high-school teams.
The staff background is instrumental in assuring that customers get the right footwear for their needs, Bearis continued.
This extra touch assures customers that their footwear needs will be given the highest priority when they visit the new Foot Locker, he said.
Foot Locker is open seven days a week, and follows the mall operating hours.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
