LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO— BACKWOODS will open a 10,000-square-foot store – its only location in Missouri – on an out-parcel at The Meadows at Lake St. Louis August 29-30, 2009. Davis Street Land Company is the developer of the 64-acre enclave located at Lake Saint Louis Boulevard and Interstate 64.  The store will present an array of exceptional outdoor gear, footwear and apparel including the Backwoods Collection line, sold exclusively at BACKWOODS and backwoods.com.

“We are thrilled to have BACKWOODS join our community of leading retailers,” said Bridget Geiss, marketing director of The Meadows. “BACKWOODS perfectly complements our naturalistic setting and design. We think customers will adore shopping at this innovative outdoor retailer.”

The Meadows store will be BACKWOODS’ ninth nationally, following stores in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas.  The retailer expects thousands of people to visit grand opening weekend and to celebrate will donate 10 percent of its sales those two days to the Eastern Missouri Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

“The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis is fast becoming a destination shopping location in metro St. Louis and we are excited to make BACKWOODS more accessible to Missourians,” said BACKWOODS CEO Jennifer Mull. “St. Louis is an active and vibrant community with a rich history.  We look forward to inspiring the next generation of adventurers in the Gateway City.”

The August 29-30 grand opening of BACKWOODS will coincide with first year anniversary of The Meadows.  A weekend-long celebration party -- featuring a rock-climbing wall, food, in-store music and much more – is being planned.

The new store will complement 31 other upscale retailers and eateries already found at The Meadows.  Ultimately, the center will host 500,000 square feet of retail space woven in a pedestrian-friendly “downtown” grid marked by water features, landscaped boulevards and outdoor gathering spaces.

About The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis
The Meadows is owned, leased and managed by Davis Street in partnership with Bruce Johnston, a lifetime resident of St. Louis with more than 25 years of retail real estate experience.  Based in Evanston, Ill., Davis Street Land Company is a privately held real estate company focused on both the development and ownership of upscale specialty centers located in suburban and urban settings.  The principals of the company are responsible for such unique retail properties as Plaza Frontenac and The Shops at Clarkson Corner in St. Louis, Renaissance Place and Orland Park Crossing in Chicago, The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn. and The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, Calif.  To learn more, visit www.dslandco.com.

About BACKWOODS
BACKWOODS is an Austin,Texas-based, national outdoor retail company with a long history of providing its customers top quality technical gear and a broad collection of outdoor clothing and footwear. Founded in 1973 in Wichita, Kansas, BACKWOODS currently operates nine retail locations in Austin, Fort Worth, Norman, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Overland Park, St. Louis, Tulsa and Wichita. 24/7 shopping is also available online at backwoods.com. In addition to the BACKWOODS retail locations, BACKWOODS Adventures, the company’s adventure travel division, offers a unique and first rate adventure travel experience for all levels of outdoor enthusiast. Whether you climb tall mountains or have never set foot on a trail, travel the world or travel downtown, BACKWOODS is the exclusive portal to whatever type of adventure you seek. For more information visit www.backwoods.com