Uniontown bags Outdoor World
People who fish and hunt for wild game – as well as those who prefer bagging designer fashions – soon will be able to shop for gear and high-end clothing in downtown Uniontown. Maggie Hardy Magerko, president and owner of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa, said Tuesday that Woodlands Outdoor World will relocate from Route 40 in Farmington to 27 W. Main St. in January, and that three clothing stores will open in the former Penn Theater building at 5 E. Main St. on Oct. 15.
The three new stores, which also are owned and operated by Nemacolin Woodlands, are Exquisite, a women’s clothing shop; Sole Mates, a women’s shoe store; and Top Hat, a men’s clothing store.
Hardy Magerko said all four outlets are part of her continued commitment to the revitalization of Uniontown.
“In each case, we are bringing unique retail outlets to the main business district of the city so that we can continue to build consumer traffic and form a strong retail base to attract other regional and national retailers and food and beverage operators,” Hardy Magerko said. “I’m excited to be part of the ambitious plan to turn this area into a high-traffic retail area and to stimulate tourism and make Uniontown a destination for day-trippers and weekend travelers alike.”
Uniontown Mayor James Sileo said he was pleasantly surprised Tuesday by the news about Outdoors World and hopes it and the clothing stores bring shoppers and more businesses downtown.
“This will really enhance the downtown area. I hope it brings people back to shopping downtown,” Sileo said. “I’m overwhelmed. This is good news for the city of Uniontown.”
Jeff Nobers, vice president of corporate communications for 84 Lumber Co., said Woodlands Outdoor World’s future location, which is the old Towne Mall building, will be about a third of the size of the current store and will focus on hunting, fishing and camping products.
The candy shop, gift shop, restaurant and the stock of casual clothing in the current Outdoor World will not be transferred to the Main Street store, he said.
“Hard-core” hunting and fishing products such as camouflage hunting clothes, guns, bows, fishing tackle and boots, which comprise about 80 percent of the merchandise at the existing store, will be sold at the new location, Nobers said.
The new store has about 10,000 square feet of retail space and the current store has about 30,000, he said.
Nobers said the existing Outdoor World, which opened in October 2002, has been successful, but could do better in downtown Uniontown because it will be closer to more people and because of foot traffic.
“No one walks by on Route 40,” Nobers said.
It is possible that both stores will be open simultaneously for a brief time after the new store opens in mid-January while merchandise is being transferred, he said.
Outdoor World, the three clothes stores and the restaurant 30 East Main, which Hardy Magerko opened in April, will help each other by bringing customers to town, and are all parts of the goal to attract regional or national retailers, he said.
“That’s a great base to build on. If you build a base that’s drawing traffic, it’s a much easier sell to those folks,” Nobers said.
He said the new shops also could entice more local businesses to the city.
The new women’s clothes and shoe stores will carry designer brands such as Missoni, Moschino, Rene Lezard, Marissa Baratelli, Bruno Magli, Isabella Fiore, Furla and Christiana. The men’s store will feature lines from Zanella, Jack Victor, Eton, Luigi Bianchi and the fragrance Bond No. 9.
Exquisite will have 2,700 square feet of retail space, Sole Mates 1,350 square feet and Top Hat 1,550.
Nobers said there are no definite plans on how the existing Outdoor World building will be used after the store closes.
Indoor recreation, meeting facilities and different uses for the kitchen have come up in discussions, but nothing has been finalized, he said.
He said it is premature to discuss the possibility of using the building for a gambling casino.
Nemacolin will apply for a casino license, but only two resort-based licenses will be available from the state and the licensees will not be announced until sometime next year, Nobers said.