PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Aug. 21, 2014
VILLA, the Philadelphia based specialty retailer known for its curated selection of urban-inspired fashion footwear and apparel, is excited to announce its acquisition of DK Foot & Casual, a chain of 12 complementary stores in and around Dallas-Fort Worth. The acquisition provides VILLA with a foothold in the Texas market, where it expects to expand quickly over the next few years.
“Since my parents opened the first VILLA 25 years ago in Reading, PA,” said CEO Jason Lutz, “we have focused on building lasting community relationships by hiring from the neighborhoods that surround our stores, partnering with local community organizations, and investing in our stores to provide an elevated retail experience for our customers. We found a partner in DK that shares our vision in serving the community and are excited to build on the relationships it has cultivated over the last 22 years.”
In parallel with the acquisition, VILLA has announced the hires of Robert Butler as Chief Merchandising Officer and David Rhoads as Chief Operating Officer. Each brings an exceptional track record of growing specialty retail businesses: Butler as an early employee and chief merchant of Foot Locker, and more recently as General Merchandise Manager of Jimmy Jazz; and Rhoads as a finance and operations executive in varying capacities at Ann Taylor, Limited Brands, and The Gap.
Lutz added, “While expanding from 33 doors at the end of 2011 to 117 by the end of this year, we’ve also focused on building out an incredible corporate team to support and enhance our retail experience. Bob and Dave round out what we think is a best-in-class management team and will help us serve our customers and communities in a way that is unmatched in our industry.”
ABOUT VILLA
Since 1989, VILLA has been the primary fashion destination for the evolving urban customer in Greater Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. More recently, it has expanded its presence into Northern Ohio and Upstate New York, as well as Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and Milwaukee. VILLA carries a curated selection of footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and kids that reflects the latest trends influenced by music, fashion and sports. VILLA focuses on providing an elevated shopping experience to its customer base and giving back to its communities in the form of employment, outreach, and service. With the acquisition of DK Foot & Casual, VILLA expects to operate 117 stores by the end of 2014. Goode Partners made a majority investment in VILLA in December 2012.