Texas Western wear chain picks Brandon plaza to make regional debut

A Texas-based Western wear outfitter known for its handcrafted cowboy boots, hats and work wear will soon open its first Tampa Bay store inside a Brandon shopping mall. 

Cavender’s Boot City has signed a lease for a 15,000-square-foot location that formerly housed a DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse at the Brandon Exchange mall, at 949 Brandon Town Center Drive. 

Cavender’s plans to open to the public on Sept. 25, according to a release, with two more Florida stores preparing to open this fall in Orange Park and Ocala. 

Founded in 1965, Cavender’s Boot City bills itself as “the premier destination for authentic Western Wear for more than 60 years.” Its stores offer apparel and accessories for men, women and children as well as personalized boot-fitting, hat-shaping and boot-stretching services, the release says.

“Customers can expect to see well-known labels such as Ariat, Wrangler, Resistol, in addition to Cavender’s very own lines, including Rockin’ C, Rafter C and JRC & Sons brands,” the release says. 

Cavender’s currently operates one other store in Florida, located in Orlando off International Drive. It’s one of more than 130 locations spread across 18 states. 

Its new location at Brandon Exchange, formerly known as the Brandon Town Center, will be next to another new addition to the mall: Ireland-based fast fashion retailer Primark. The mall is operated by North American Development Group, based in West Palm Beach.