Retail news

Erehwon Mountain Outfitters is back, after a year's absence, under new ownership.

The store will open in early April at 6594 Monona Drive in the Pier 37 Shopping Center.

With 8,000 square feet of retail space, Erehwon will employ 10 people.

Erehwon ? nowhere spelled backward ? originally opened in Madison in 1974 at 341 State St., one of a chain of Chicago-based stores. The Downtown location closed in 1993. A West Side location, which opened in 1988, closed in April 2004.

Owner Steven Schmaling, formerly the manager of the West Side store, acquired rights to the name.

Several changes at Greenway Station

The smallest of three Madison-area Dick's Sporting Goods stores, at Greenway Station in Middleton, will close April 30.

John Hennion, senior vice president of strategic planning for Dick's, said the Greenway Station store and the location at West Towne Mall were too close to one another. Dick's also has a store at East Towne Mall.

Germaine Brown, manager of Greenway Station, said the shopping center had received commitments from two national retailers to take a large portion of the Dick's space. The new tenants will be announced when lease agreements are finalized.

Greenway Station has also lost two other stores: the Twisted Spoon, a high-end housewares and gift store, in January; and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, in February. But Greenway marketing coordinator Eric Fleming said the center will be back to full occupancy soon.

Klaus Preidt plans to open his namesake boutique in mid- to late April, and Johnny's Italian Steakhouse and Residence Inn by Marriott are to open in April.

Greenway Station welcomed clothing retailer White House Black Market and gourmet food store Oil and Vinegar in February.

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