NASCAR Outlet Stores To Be Tested In Orlando; Others Planned

The first of a “new chain of NASCAR retail outlets” opened “without fanfare” last week in Orlando, which is the test market for the chain, according to Jerry Jackson of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Co-Owners Anne and Steve Deli acquired an exclusive agreement with NASCAR to launch the stores earlier this year, “trading on their experience running two Harley-Davidson outlets in Orlando.” NASCAR VP/Licensing & Consumer Products Mark Dyer said, “We like their business plan. We like their skills and ... success with Harley. And they have a lot of zeal for this.” Dyer noted NASCAR “does not have an ownership stake” in the stores. Jackson reported the Delis expect to open a 2,100-square-foot NASCAR store in Chicago “within about six weeks.” The Delis said that they have letters of intent “with two airports and are talking with 10 more airports across the country.” Jackson noted a similar chain, NASCAR Thunder, operated in about a dozen cities “for three to four years before going out of business” in ’00 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/31).