Mark’s trying WEM on for size.

Mark’s is making the move to West Edmonton Mall as the Calgary-based company grows its presence in enclosed malls.

The 22,000-square-foot flagship store should open by October, said chief operating officer Rick White.

“It won’t necessarily be our first soiree into a mall, but it will be a learning store for us,” said White. “We’re going to be doing a lot of boutiquing within that store with some of the national brands that we’ve added in the past year.

“It will be a lab, or test type, store for us to see if there is a possibility to expand our footprint and look at perhaps going into more enclosed malls.

Mark’s, named the province’s most respected company in a survey of Alberta consumers released Friday, was best-known for selling industrial apparel and footwear. In recent years it has expanded its casual clothing and footwear, White said, a move that better suits a mall environment.

Part of the Canadian Tire empire, Mark’s was chosen Alberta’s most respected company among 75 peers in 13 sectors. The award was presented by Alberta Venture and Leger Research Group, who surveyed 1,500 province residents on their perception of Alberta-led brands. Mark’s was ranked sixth by business respondents.

Mark’s opened its first store in Calgary on August 14, 1977. Today, it has more than 380 stores.

There are 61 stores in Alberta, including 11 in Edmonton and five in nearby communities. Its fourth-quarter 2014 revenues of $450.1 million were 7.3 per cent higher than a year earlier.

“Mark’s is one of the most recognizable apparel brands in Canada with a strong financial covenant backed by Canadian Tire that appeals to the regional shopping centre owners,” said retail analyst Michael Kehoe of Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary.

“The recent departure of several large-format fashion chains from the Canadian market is sure to free up some prime mall real estate at affordable rents that will play right into Mark’s mall expansion program.”

In 2014, Mark’s redesigned a number of stores across Canada and partnered with new brands, including Far West, a niche outerwear brand launched in Vernon, B.C. in 1977. Mark’s bought the company about 18 months ago.

It produced a limited footwear line last fall and hopes to have clothing available by October, said White.

White said Mark’s will open five to 10 locations a year under its expansion plans.

COLLEEN DE NEVE/ CALGARY HERALD Rick White, chief operating officer of Mark’s, says the company’s new location in West Edmonton Mall will be a ‘lab’ store, testing the possibility of more moves into enclosed malls.