National: March 9, 2001
Columbus, Ohio-based Limited Inc., the nation’s second-largest apparel chain, is looking for a buyer for its Lane Bryant division, which offers plus-size women’s apparel. The company also plans to restructure its men’s apparel units, folding its Structure chain into its Express brand and calling it Express Men’s; both moves were widely expected by analysts and on Wall Street; in related appointment news, Express president and CEO Michael Weiss has been named to head the new Express Men’s unit and board member Len Schlesinger has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Limited Inc.... If the contestants in last weekend’s televised Miss U.S.A. pageant looked more stylish than usual, perhaps the To The Max apparel was the reason; BCBG Max Azria was one of the contest’s sponsors, so naturally the would-be beauty queens were wearing the line ... Indianapolis-based athletic apparel retailer The Finish Line Inc. will close 17 stores after reporting fourth-quarter losses and announcing a restructuring plan; at the end of 2000, the company operated approximately 440 stores in 42 states ... Indianapolis-based Paul Harris Stores Inc., which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since last October, will liquidate its inventory and shutter its stores after failing to find sufficient financial and vendor support to continue; according to a Wall Street Journal report, the company recently had filed a plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that called for operating 166 stores while closing 100 others, but its lenders, creditors and suppliers could not agree on terms.
