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Talk of the Bay

Dude! Vans is back, and coming here

By MARK ALBRIGHT
Published May 22, 2006

The Tampa Bay area has chalked up another bona fide claim as a hot bed of skateboarders, wake boarders, BMX bikers and young surfers. Vans, the hot California footwear and apparel maker, is opening three stores in the market this summer and searching local malls for two more. The stores offer a full line of 2,000 Vans-label items including shirts, shorts, denim and accessories for the 13- to 20-year-old action sports set in the moderate price range. They even sell a few brands of skateboards. Stores open in Westfield Countryside in June and about a month later in Tyrone Square Mall and Westfield Citrus Park. After losing its way a few years ago, the chain, which is owned by apparel giant VF Inc., is hot again. Sales in stores open more than a year soared 40 percent in the first quarter.

The chain zeroed in on Tampa Bay because of the region's growing young population and the climate for year-round outdoor youth participation sports, said Kevin Bailey, president of Vans' 134-store retail chain. It's been a regular stop on the Vans Warped Tour and has several public skate facilities and the private Skatepark of Tampa that staged national events.

Want to feel old? Vans celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The label's reputation went national when Sean Penn wore the iconic black and white checkerboard Vans canvas slip-ons in the movie Fast Times at Ridge-mont High in 1982. That was 24 years ago.

[Last modified May 22, 2006, 05:05:20]