Here Today announces two more stores to locate in area

Positive consumer response to its first store in Florissant, Mo., is prompting a discount retailer to open two additional stores in the market.

Here Today announced that its second location will open in Fairview Heights this week and the third, a ground-up build, is slated to open in Fenton, Mo., in November.

Here Today plans eight additional stores in 2015 in the St. Louis metro area.

“We have been very pleased with the response to our first store in Florissant, and have received terrific feedback from our customers. It’s clear they are focused on great deals on name-brand basics as well as the ‘treasure hunt’ items we offer. They have also told us they love the interesting, upbeat and fun shopping environment,” said Bill Shaner, managing partner at Here Today. “The customer feedback in Florissant has validated our concept, and we’re excited to expand our reach to Fairview Heights and Fenton this fall.”

Here Today is designed to be different from most price-oriented retailers, he said, with a 20,000-square-foot store featuring a clean, bright and contemporary shopping environment.

The stores provide eight key product zones or “shops-in-shops,” featuring a variety of merchandise along with personal touches such as complimentary coffee to enjoy while browsing. The merchandise mix includes grocery, frozen food, candy, craft beer and wines, housewares, electronics and small appliances, storage solutions, health and beauty, home décor, seasonal, pet products, ladies accessories, gifts, candy and team gear.

“With new merchandise arriving several times a week, shoppers frequently come in to see what great deals they can find. With a mix of 50 percent grocery and 50 percent hardlines and softlines, our top performing zones are ladies accessories, frozen food, seasonal and home decor. With over 90% of our merchandise under the $10 price point, it’s easy to walk out with a full cart of great values,” Shaner said.

Here Today is led by a group of St. Louis-based retail veterans with more than 200 years of combined experience. Among them are Tom Holley, former president and CEO of Grandpa’s Stores and founder/president of Deals: Nothing Over a Dollar; Bill Shaner, former president and CEO of Save-A-Lot; Rick Meyer, executive vice president of real estate development at Grandpa’s, Deal$ and Save-A-Lot and principal of TAT Capital & Consulting; and Jeff Schneider, a buyer at Grandpa’s, Deal$ and Save-A-Lot.

In 2015, the team plans to expand the Here Today brand with 8 additional stores in the St. Louis metro area, with plans for regional roll-out in 2016 and beyond. The team continues to source locations that fit its model: 17,000 to 20,000 square feet, located in accessible, high-traffic retail centers. The first three stores will employ 100 team members on top of the 20 corporate staff with potential to employ more than 250 in the next six to 12 months.

Here Today’s corporate headquarters is located at 2550 Hermelin Ave. in St. Louis. The first store is located at Florissant Meadows Shopping Center- 770 N. Highway 67, Florissant. The second store is located at Lincoln Place Center – 5905 N. Illinois St. (Route 159), Fairview Heights. The third store is currently under construction in the Gravois Bluffs development in Fenton.