Lee-Wrangler settles in at Katy Mills Mall

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 11/17/22

Lee-Wrangler, the jeans and clothing company, opened a retail outlet at Katy Mills Mall this month.

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Lee-Wrangler settles in at Katy Mills Mall

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Lee-Wrangler, the jeans and clothing company, opened a retail outlet at Katy Mills Mall this month.

Store officials and staff held a ribbon cutting Nov. 4 with the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, with the store featuring its signature brands of jeans, along with a variety of other clothing items. The store itself did not open that day due to some last-minute paperwork issues with the state, but the store is open for business now. Mary Tremble, store manager, said the store passed its fire marshal inspection Monday.

Lee and Wrangler are best known for their lines of jeans, but Julianna Hallman, U.S. marketing manager, said the store has more to offer.

“We offer more than just western,” Hallman said. “We have so many options for clothing. Denim, jeans, jackets, shirts, graphic t-shirts…we offer a wide variety of product.”

Many retailers focus on their online operations, particularly after the pandemic. Lee-Wrangler is no different there. But in Katy’s case, having a brick-and-mortar presence at the mall is important. It is the only Lee-Wrangler store in the Greater Houston area and only one of five in Texas, Hallman said.

“We like to have options for everyone, especially so people can come in and try on the products in the stores,” Hallman said. “We’re thrilled to offer to our customers and people who haven’t shopped with us before.”

Hallman said the company also wanted to open in Katy because the mall recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.

“We are excited to be in Katy, serving the community with these two iconic brands,” Hallman said. “We’re thrilled to be in a community that loves Lee and Wrangler.”

Tremble said she has been with the company for eight years. She used to manage the store in LaMarque, which closed in 2020. The Katy store has 10 employees, including Tremble, though she said she hoped to hire three more seasonal employees as the Christmas shopping season gets under way.

While Tremble admitted she was new to Katy, she likes what she’s seen.

“I started researching Katy and thought it was a beautiful city,” Tremble said. “I enjoy the area so far. It’s very sweet and the people are very nice.”

The company has researched its market. Hallman said the company knew that Katy ISD high schools all have FFA chapters.

“We are looking forward to being able to partner with the FFA chapters,” Hallman said. “They probably all wear Wranglers.”

Lee-Wrangler, Katy Mills Mall