Ross Stores Plans 60 New Store Openings In 2021

Off-price retailer Ross Stores opened three dd’s DISCOUNTS® and four Ross Dress for Less® retail locations throughout five states in March and February. The new stores are part of the Dublin, California-based company’s intentions to bring roughly 60 new retail locations — 20 dd’s DISCOUNTS and 40 Ross stores — onto its roster in fiscal 2021, according to a Monday (March 8) announcement.

“These recent openings reflect our ongoing plans to continue the expansion of our two chains,” Group Executive Vice President, Property Development Gregg McGillis said in the announcement. “As we look out over the long-term, we remain confident that Ross can grow to 2,400 locations and dd’s DISCOUNTS can become a chain of 600 stores given consumers’ ongoing focus on value and convenience.”

As it stands, the company runs Ross Dress for Less® with nearly 1,590 locations in 40 states, Guam and the District of Columbia. Ross provides “first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer” home fashions, shoes, accessories and clothing at a discount from department and specialty store prices.

Moreover, the company runs nearly 280 dd’s DISCOUNTS® in 21 states that offer a “more moderately-priced” collection of “first-quality, in-season, name brand” home fashions, shoes, accessories and clothing.

The news comes as Ross Stores said fourth-quarter sales arrived above its outlooks, but the pandemic proved to be a headwind for traffic. As for its overall results, Ross Stores registered earnings per share of 67 cents on sales of $4.2 billion for the quarter.

“While our fourth-quarter sales exceeded our expectations, the upsurge of the virus resulted in lower traffic, especially in California, our largest state, where we were subject to more stringent occupancy and operating hour restrictions,” CEO Barbara Rentler said in the release.

In October, Ross Stores opened nine dd’s DISCOUNTS^® and 30 Ross Dress for Less^® stores across 17 states. “We remain committed to growing our Ross and dd’s footprints across our existing markets as well as expansion into our newer markets,” McGillis said in an announcement at the time.