Frye set for expansion

Frye, the New York-based leather goods company, is set up to expand in a major way. The company has plans to open four new stores later this summer. Two of the new stores will add to markets Frye is currently in already (New York and Washington D.C.), as well as tapping two new markets (Atlanta and Dallas.)

Frye began around 1863 and claims to be the oldest boot manufacturer in the United States. They gained acclaim from their multiple styles of boots, including harness and engineer boots. They've certainly come a long way from a boot making company in the 80s to a symbol of an appreciation for fine leather goods. This retail expansion is just helping them continue to make their mark in fashion history.

The first two stores that are slated to open are the New York and Atlanta locations. The Atlanta store will be located within the Ponce City Market, a development with the Sears Roebuck distribution center. The new 4,000 square foot space will be at the center's main level with a storefront replicating the warehouses original window and columns wrapped in leather.

Frye expanding their retail footprint with 4 new stores

Their second New York location will be a 3,600 square foot space at Long Island's Roosevelt Field in a newly added wing of the mall that will also house a Neiman Marcus in 2016. The Washington area will get its second store, a 4,000 square foot location, at Tyson's Corner Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The final new location in Dallas, Texas will be a 4,000 square foot location at the NorthPark Center, the largest climate controlled retail establishment in the world.

One thing is for sure, Frye certainly knows how to pick the perfect locations to expand their brick-and-mortar foot print. All the new locations will be outfitted to resemble vintage artisan workshops with interior details expected to include workbenches, vintage carpets, and custom seating. Each store will also feature chandelier like installations made up of 7,000 leather straps holding Frye's signature harness rings.

The stores will also feature a curated grid wall for Frye's handbags called "The Archive." Another new feature will be "The Bar", a digitally enabled service that will allow customers to browse through Frye's offerings. It seems to be a big year for Frye, and come fall we'll see how these new store expansions reflect in their sales numbers.

Photo: dc.curbed.com