DUNCAN – Burkes Outlet Stores Inc., a privately held name-brand clothing, beauty aids and home goods retailer owned by Beall’s Inc., will open a new location in Duncan’s Elk Plaza.
With locations in Ardmore, Bartlesville, Chickasha, Muskogee, as well as last week’s grand opening in Okmulgee, Duncan becomes the second of three Oklahoma stores to open in April. Burkes’ Okmulgee location held its grand opening on April 1; the third grand opening in the Sooner State will be April 29 at Durant’s Briarwood Shopping Center.
“Oklahoma’s really been a lucrative market … Duncan was just part of our expansion program,” said Duncan store manager Chris Mireles.
“We definitely look at our customer base whenever we open a new store,” said Mireles. “For the majority, a lot of our stores are going to be quite similar when it comes to product, processes and things of that nature. But we are in tune with the demographics of the area.”
After Duncan’s grand opening Thursday, Burkes, located at 3131 N. Highway 81, will bring “name-brand merchandise at a price that really fits a lot of peoples’ budgets”, as well as “great customer service” — a strong core value for the company that began more than a century ago. Burkes originally launched in Florida in 1915 under the Beall’s Inc. name, the company’s website states.
Always looking for talented candidates to join the team, the Duncan’s Burkes is currently about 90% staffed, Mireles said. The location is expected to employ approximately 30 individuals: 20-25 sales associates, five or six supervisors and one store manager.
Growing to more than 500 retail locations across the U.S. since 1987, Burkes’ “[c]ustomers can find brand name apparel and accessories for the entire family at up to 70% off other stores’ prices every day,” the company’s website states. Most Burkes stores also carry home décor, gifts and toys and are designed to serve customers of all ages and income levels. according to the website. The expanding softlines retailer has locations in 13 states from Nevada to Virginia.
Chris Deal, president and CEO of Duncan Chamber of Commerce, said “Burkes is a really great company and we’re really fortunate to have them in Elk Plaza. That gives our community a variety in shopping and it’s a good anchor for the mall. So, we’re just excited about Burkes coming into our community.
Adding that “communities fund themselves through sales tax dollars off of retail sales,” Burkes will “fill a gap in the type of retail we desire for the community,” Deal stated, “We have a lot of great local businesses, and when you have someone outside investing, its always a good thing.”
For more details, visit https://stores.burkesoutlet.com or call (580) 470-8409.