Boyds Bear Country store to build on Hwy. 76 in Branson

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The Boyds Collection Ltd. of Gettysburg, Pa., announced it has signed a letter of intent to build a teddy bear store in Branson set to open in the fourth quarter of 2005.|ret||ret||tab|

According to a news release from the city of Branson, the 100,000- square-foot store will be along the 1800 block of West Highway 76 across from Dixie Stampede. The Boyds store will be the fourth in the country. |ret||ret||tab|

Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer said he is thrilled for Branson to be the home of the first Missouri Boyds store.|ret||ret||tab|

"With the combination of Branson's strong base of more than 7 (million) to 8 million visitors each year, and the exceptional quality of Boyds' products, this will be a great partnership," he said in the news release. |ret||ret||tab|

Schaefer said he applauds the efforts of city economic development director Mike Rankin, city administrator Terry Dody, the property owners and Boyds' officials for putting the idea in motion.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's been a long process persuading Boyds to open a store in Branson," Rankin said. "I first made contact with the Boyds people two years ago at the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) convention in Las Vegas, and with the help of the Bransons Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the property owners, Dale Brallier and Bud Gehrs, we're moving forward with a new store in Branson."|ret||ret||tab|

Boyds CEO Jan L. Murley said Branson is an ideal location for Boyds Bear Country because it is a top family tourist destination in the United States.|ret||ret||tab|

"It is a pleasure working with Mayor Schaefer, Terry Dody and all of the others in Branson who have made it possible for us to bring our store to their terrific city," she said. "We will fulfill our end of the agreement by providing Branson's visitors with the unique entertainment our stores provide and the broad offering of outstanding products that have made our brand a success for the past 25 years, with the goal of keeping them coming back to Boyds Bear Country and to Branson for years to come."|ret||ret||tab|

The Boyds Collection Ltd. designs and manufactures "folksy with attitude" gifts and collectibles. The Boyds Bear Country store allows customers to shop, adopt and stuff their own bears.The first Boyds Bear Country store opened in Gettysburg in 2002 and delivered $16 million of sales in its first year. A second location will open in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. in December, and a third will open in Myrtle Beach, S.C. in summer 2005. |ret||ret||tab|

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