Business & Tech

EJ's Shoes Relocates From University City to Richmond Heights

The Brentwood Boulevard store opened Thursday to the public.

EJ's Shoes relocated from University City to Richmond Heights in an effort to be a part of the shopping nexus that features such prominent destinations as the , its general merchandise manager said.

The new site, 1114 S. Brentwood Blvd., sits at the "crossroads of one of the best shopping areas in the Midwest," general merchandise manager Ron Johnson said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday. Previously, the location housed a Blockbuster and the 905 liquor store.

EJ's operated on Olive Boulevard in University City for about 39 years. It used to be that running a store on a busy thoroughfare such as that one generated a lot of customers, Johnson said. And while the previous location had a loyal following, retail trends have led to the creation of regional shopping areas such as the one at the intersection of Highway 40 and Interstate 170 in Richmond Heights.

These days, those areas generally are frequented more than those on thoroughfares.

"We were seeing the slow drip of, 'OK, this area is not being redeveloped,'" Johnson said. Pace Properties worked with EJ's for about a year to find a location that fit.

The shoe store aims to feature high-quality brands such as Nine West, Cole Haan, BCBG, Vaneli, Anne Klein, Franco Sarto and Ugg, Johnson said. Customers can come into the store and self-select shoes they'd like to try on. If they need help, employees are available to provide guidance on shoe size and other issues.

EJ's began as a buyout company that got shoes from retailers at low prices, Johnson said. These days, the company's model has changed to blend best-of-the-best brands with good deals.

The company has three other stores—one in Crestwood, two in Arizona and one in California, said Lindi Niedner, an account executive with Musen Steinbach Weiss. The Richmond Heights location has been patterned after those out west.

Mayor James Beck said he's glad to see a company with the years of experience that EJ's has come to Richmond Heights. It will produce revenue for the city, and its employees are nice people.

"The building's been sitting virtually vacant for several years," he said."It's fantastic," President Pat Croghan of the Richmond Heights Chamber of Commerce said about the move to the Brentwood Boulevard building. He added: "It's a wonder that this jewel isn't more in demand."


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