Pacific Sunwear Plans to Open 40 New Stores

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. said it will open 40 new stores and expand as many as 15 others by the end of 1997.

The mall-based retailer of casual clothing said it expects to be operating 212 stores by the end of this year. The additional stores will bring the total to 252 by the end of 1997, the company said.

Pacific Sunwear said it will increase square footage in some stores from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet to accommodate junior merchandise and footwear. It will add those lines of goods in successful stores that don’t currently sell them.

The company said the new stores, enlargements or relocations will increase total leased square footage by nearly 30% in the next year. The company also said it named William Oughton director of real estate, as part of its expansion plan.