FOXBusiness:
Payless ShoeSource, the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, made a major step in its international expansion effort this past weekend with the first store openings in the Eastern Hemisphere. In partnership with its franchisee M.H. Alshaya Co., the leading retailer in the region, Payless celebrated the grand opening of its first Payless ShoeSource stores in the Middle East, with a 220-square-meter store located in The Avenues mall in Kuwait, and a 240-square-meter-store in the Sahara Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“We are excited to grand open our first-ever stores in the Middle East and to bring shoppers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all that Payless has to offer — great style, quality and brand names – all at a great price,” said Matthew Rubel, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless ShoeSource. “These grand openings represent a significant milestone in the international expansion of our Payless stores, as well as many firsts for Payless – our entrance into the Middle East, the Eastern Hemisphere, and to franchise our stores. We are pleased to have such a tremendous franchisee in Alshaya, with its significant retail expertise, infrastructure and deep knowledge of the region.”