Fairfield's Pier 1 Imports to become outlet store

February 3, 2006

Fairfield's Pier 1 Imports to become outlet store

By Christine Cube and Nathan Halverson

FAIRFIELD - Pier 1 Imports plans to locate its only Bay Area outlet store in Fairfield -but it first has to close its location at 1595 Holiday Lane.

On Feb. 18, the Pier 1 Imports here will close its doors as a regular store.

For a week, the site will undergo a remodel of its 9,000 square foot space, mostly to the back of the store, representatives there said Thursday. The newly outfitted outlet store will reopen Feb. 25.

What makes the switch different is the new Pier 1 Imports Outlet will carry only discount merchandise and discontinued items that will be roughly one "season" behind regular Pier 1 Imports stores.

Pier 1 is making the change so one store in the Bay Area can act as a clearing house for damaged or overstocked merchandise.

"It's helpful to have one outlet store in our major markets to help clear out merchandise from other stores in the region," said Misty Otto, spokeswoman from Pier 1. "They are very handy. They usually get new merchandise two or three times a week. All the stuff is marked down."

The company is converting one store in every major market to act as an outlet location. The number of Pier 1 outlet stores has doubled to 32 since last year.
Otto said Fairfield is a prime spot to receive merchandise from other locations.

All merchandise in Pier 1 outlet stores is 25 percent to 75 percent off.

Everything in the Holiday Lane store now is on sale. Massive signs adorn the windows, stating all sales are final.

On Thursday, Pier 1 shoppers delighted in the 30 percent off deals. Store reps didn't know whether merchandise would be discounted further, that's an order that can only come from Pier 1 corporate, which is located in Fort Worth, Texas.

Merchandise that doesn't fly off the shelves before Feb. 18 will be shipped to other Pier 1 locations in Vallejo and Vacaville.

Karl Dumas, economic development project manager with the city of Fairfield, said the Pier 1 redo is a great addition to the flurry of retail activity around the Travis Boulevard exit off Interstate 80.

"The store may even prove to be busier as an outlet because Solano County shoppers love to bargain hunt," Dumas said.

He pointed to other big retail and commercial changes along the corridor there, including the construction of a new 74-room Residence Inn, the pending re-lease of the old Yardbirds Home Center space, and a host of new businesses that have opened in the past year including Peet's Coffee & Tea, Petco, Meineke Car Care Center and Natures Essence.

Other new retailers to join the scene will include The Golden 1 Credit Union and an Original Mel's diner at Geri-Towne Mall.

Reach Christine Cube at 427-6934 or ccube@dailyrepublic.net. Reach Nathan Halverson at 425-4646 Ext. 267 or nhalverson@dailyrepublic.net.