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"The City of Bad Axe reviewed the site plan and signed off on the zoning permit so they can get their building permit," said Bad Axe City Manager John Nugent.

He added, "It looks like it's a go."

Nugent said the store will be doing some remodeling of the location, which is planned for later this month.

"We hear there are a bunch of wonderful people up there," said Kathy Baker, Store Planner.

Stage Stores, Inc. brings moderately priced, nationally recognized brand name and private label apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities across 35 states. With over 700 stores operating under the "Bealls," "Palais Royal," "Peebles" and "Stage" trade names, the company believes that it has developed a unique retailing concept and niche in these markets by offering a broad range of nationally recognized brand name merchandise with a high level of customer service in convenient locations.

The company's principal focus is on consumers in small to mid-size markets. Stage Stores, Inc. has recognized the high level of brand awareness and demand for fashionable, quality apparel by consumers in small and mid-size markets and has identified these markets as a profitable and under-served niche. Utilizing a 10 mile radius from each store, approximately 63 percent of the company's stores are located in small towns and communities with populations below 50,000 people, while an additional 19 percent of the stores are located in mid-sized communities with populations between 50,000 and 150,000 people. The other 18 percent of the stores are located in metropolitan areas, such as Houston and San Antonio, Texas.

In targeting small to mid-size markets, they have developed a store format, ranging in size from approximately 5,100 to 52,000 selling square feet, which is smaller than typical department stores yet large enough to offer a well edited, but broad selection of merchandise. With an average size store of approximately 18,500 selling square feet, approximately 80 percent of the company's stores are located in strategically positioned strip shopping centers in which they are typically one of the anchor stores.

In addition, 14 percent of the company's stores are located in local or regional shopping malls while the remaining six percent are located in either free standing or downtown buildings. The company attempts to locate its stores by or in the vicinity of, other tenants that it believes will help attract additional foot traffic to the area, such as grocery stores, drug stores or major discount stores.

They believe that it is able to differentiate itself from the competition in the small and mid-size towns and communities in which it operates by offering consumers access to a broader selection of basic, as well as fashionable, nationally recognized brand name merchandise not typically carried by other retailers in the same market area. These desirable national brands account for approximately 85 percent of the company's annual sales, while the balance is comprised of their private label goods.