NEW BUSINESS: GLIK STORES EXPANDS

Glik Stores has expanded into Michigan.

Glik Stores, headquartered in Granite City, Ill., has acquired six retail stores from Dancer.

Two of the Dancer stores -- at Rockford and Fremont, Mich. -- will open as Glik's stores in early March. Three more stores -- at Allegan, Whitehall and Ionia -- will open as Glik Stores in April.

The stores will specialize in men's, women's and children's name brand sportswear.

The sixth Dancer store, at Auburn, Ind., will open in March.

The new stores raise the 100-year-old company's totals from 49 to 55 stores in five states -- Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri -- including Cape Girardeau.

"We're thrilled to be opening stores in Michigan," said Jeff Glik, president of the company. "These towns are exactly what we search for -- small enough to offer us the hometown feel that we love and large enough to support our retail operation."

The Glik Co., founded in 1897, is one of the oldest family-owned apparel store chains in the nation. In addition to Glik Stores, the company operates stores under the name of Glik Ltd., Glik Guy's, Glik Sports, and $10 And Less.

The company was founded in 1897 and remains a family-owned and operated business

Joe Glik is chief executive officer; a son, Jeff Glik, is president of the firm. Jim Glik is vice president of men's merchandising and is responsible for men's and boys' apparel. Judy Glik, also a vice president, oversees and buys for $10 And Less, and shoes.

The Glik name has been associated with retail clothing for more than 115 years.

Joe Glik's grandfather, Joseph Glik, came to the United States in the 1880s, and for more than a decade he sold clothing and dry goods to merchants in rural Iowa and Missouri. In 1891 he moved to the St. Louis area and worked as a salesman at various clothing shops on North Broadway, before opening his own store, the first in the Glik group.