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Kroger opens apparel sections at its two Fort Wayne Marketplace stores [The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.)](News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 06--You now can buy shirts, pants, socks and shoes along with the usual bread, milk and eggs at two local Kroger stores. Kroger opened apparel areas Thursday in its Marketplace stores at 601 E. Dupont Road and 5725 Coventry Lane. The grocer also is going through the planning process to convert its St. Joe Road store into a Marketplace, which also would carry clothing, said Chris Gomez, Kroger district manager. At the Village at Coventry Store on Coventry Lane, the apparel area covers about 5,800 square feet, Gomez said. Along with apparel for youth and adults, the store also carries underwear, belts and children's clothing. Marketplace stores stock national apparel brands, such as Champion, Hanes Classics, Gloria Vanderbilt and Carhartt, as well as private-label brands. "It is comparable to the stuff you find at the mall," said Cathy Coughlin of Fort Wayne, who was using coupons to get a jump on Christmas shopping while at the Kroger in the Village at Coventry. "I have three daughters," said Coughlin, who was being assisted in the women's area by daughter Kelly Coughlin, the head of the store's apparel section. The addition of apparel replaces Kroger Marketplace stores' sale of furniture and home decor items. After about a year of monitoring purchasing trends and listening to customer feedback, Kroger found customers preferred the option to shop for clothing there rather than furniture and decor items, a company news release said. Furniture and home decor products still will be sold, but on a seasonal and promotional basis. Kroger recently also opened Starbucks coffee shops in its Marketplace store on Dupont Road and its Chestnut Plaza store, 10230 Chestnut Plaza Drive, and Murray's Cheese Shops at the Dupont and Village at Coventry stores. ___ (c)2014 The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Visit The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) at www.news-sentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |