A RE-TALE: ADIDAS TO LAUNCH HIGH-END, "DOWN-TO-EARTH" STORES

          adidas America will "launch an ambitious move into
     high-end-retail," as it "hopes to begin work soon on new
     stores in at least two" U.S. cities, according to Jeff
     Manning of the Portland OREGONIAN.  adidas execs are
     "searching for high-profile locations" in N.Y., Boston,
     Philadelphia, Miami, S.F., L.A. and Seattle.  The new stores
     will "adopt a format similar" to the 5,000-square-foot store
     it opened in Portland two years ago.  Although the
     "prospect" of adidas entering the retail business "prompts
     comparison" to Nike and its 13 NikeTown stores, adidas is
     "making a point of avoiding NikeTown's epic, shrinelike
     character in favor of a more down-to-Earth approach." 
     adidas spokesperson John Fread, asked about NikeTown: "We
     don't even say that word."  Plans call for only adidas
     products to be sold at the stores.  "Experienced retailer"
     Ray Brunner will head the project (OREGONIAN, 5/14).