Johnston & Murphy continues to advance its investment in airport retail with the recent upgrade of its Charlotte airport location in North Carolina.
According to the Genesco-owned footwear brand, it has relocated its shop within the airport to a larger space within the popular Atrium, adjacent to the highly trafficked Terminal A/B connector.
At 1,850-sq.-ft., the store features walnut slats and white tiles on the store front and oak floors, updated lighting and bright finishes on the interior. The new location houses a broad assortment of men’s and women’s footwear, apparel, outerwear, small leather goods and bags as well as the new fall line of casual footwear.
Danny Ewoldsen, president of Johnston & Murphy, said in a statement that this moves comes as the company continues to see “growth in retail” and are “highly encouraged” by the rise in foot traffic and sales in our airport locations.
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“The Charlotte airport has proven to be one of our highest volume locations and we are confident that our investment in a larger, updated space in a more highly trafficked area will only drive better results,” Ewoldsen said. “The airport experience for travelers has improved tremendously over the years and it is our goal to be an integral player in this trend.”
Johnston & Murphy, which will celebrate 175 years in business in 2025, currently operates 66 retail stores, 62 factory outlets and 24 airport locations for a total of 152 stores nationwide.
The company said it “continues its commitment to retail revamps and expansion,” particularly around its airport locations with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia recently reopening after extensive remodels and updates planned for 2025 for Denver, Chicago Midway and Miami.
This relocation comes after several updates the brand has undergone in recent months. In July, Johnston & Murphy revamped its locations at The Mall at Short Hills in Short Hills, N.J. and Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Mich.
These revamped stores are just one piece of the puzzle as Genesco works to widen Johnston & Murphy’s consumer base by targeting younger consumers. This can be seen in the brand’s new “Not Your Dad’s Shoe Company” campaign that was released in April. The idea of the spot was to highlight the brand’s transition into more casual, hybrid dress product that might appeal to younger consumers.
In September, the Nashville-based footwear company reported that net sales in the second quarter increased to $525 million, driven by a strong start to the back-to-school season.
By banner, sales increased 4 percent at Journeys and 1 percent at Schuh and declined 9 percent at Johnston & Murphy and 13 percent at Genesco Brands.
