Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.: The Anaheim...

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.: The Anaheim sportswear retailer said third-quarter profits rose slightly to $1.32 million, or 25 cents a share, from $1.3 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales for the fiscal period ended Oct. 29 rose 31% to a record $31.4 million from $23.9 million a year earlier, the company said.

For the first nine months, Pacific Sunwear posted a profit of $923,0000, or 17 cents a share, down almost 61% from $2.36 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales rose 28%, however, to $76.5 million from $59.9 million for the same period last year.

Pacific Sunwear is a mall-based specialty retailer of young men’s clothing, accessories and footwear. The company operates 179 stores in 31 states and said it plans to open 25 new stores next year, including one in Manhattan that will be its first store not located in a shopping mall.

Separately, the company said it has hired Robert G. Entersz as vice president of merchandise. The former Broadway Southwest region executive vice president and president of Journey’s, a specialty shoe retailer, will be primarily responsible for developing Pacific Sunwear’s shoe and junior female apparel businesses.