PATRICK JAMES ADDS A STORE IN WINE COUNTRY

According to Patrick James president Pat MonPere, they’ve purchased the Outlander store in Healdsburg, Ca. It’s been owned for the past 26 years by Chris and Bill Bryant, who sold it to concentrate on their high-end women’s store a couple of doors down.

“I’ve known Chris and Bill for many years,” says MonPere. “We’d run into each other at the clothing markets and were always friendly competitors. The Outlander has had a sterling reputation in the community for many years; we’re excited for the opportunity to continue in that location.”

MonPere elaborates on his plan to run the store as Outlander through Spring/Summer and then (most likely) transition it to Patrick James in the Fall. “We have our store in Santa Rosa about 20 miles away and they will share some customers, but we envision the Healdsburg location as more of a boutique approach, focused on luxury items. Our research indicates that the customer base on average is 80% tourists, 20% local. So in some ways, the Healdsburg store will be similar to our Carmel location, giving our catalog and web clients the opportunity to pop into one of our brick-and-mortar stores while on vacation.”

Says Chris Bryant on the store’s sale, “It has been a fantastic 26 years of Outlander in Healdsburg.  We are so grateful to our loyal customers who have supported us over the years.  So happy that Patrick James will continue the tradition of a great men’s store here.

“We are both over 70 now and have grandchildren demanding our attention.  Managing two stores has become more difficult these days. It was a hard decision to move away from Outlander, but my heart is really in 101Healdsburg, the women’s store. It is so much easier to remove ourselves knowing that Patrick James will transition in.”