PHOTOS: A Ribbon Cutting in Roseville

Gordmans, a niche department store operator touting fashion apparel and home decor goods at bargain prices, marked its entry into Roseville Friday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Company CEO Jeff Gordman told a crowd of store associates and local dignitaries that Gordmans is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the nation with plans to open nine new stores this year. Gordmans' Roseville location at the Crossroads of Roseville shopping center, 1663 County Road B2 West, is its 75th U.S. store.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Roseville Mayor Dan Roe, City St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kramer and Roseville schools director of public relations Karen Schaub.

"At a time of malaise in the nation, Gordmans is aggressive and growng" Kramer said.

As part of the festivities, Gordman presented a $2,500 check to Schaub for the Roseville Area School District 623. The retailer's donation will be made to Central Park Elementary in connection with the Partners in Education program. Partners in Education is a program for businesses, government agencies, civic groups and faith organizations to make additional educational resources available to local public school systems.

Gordmans' store space previously housed a movie theater and indoor mini-golf park.

Currently, Gordmans has two other Twin Cities locations, one at Burnsville Center in Burnsville; the other at Tamarack Village in Woodbury.

Gordmans dates back to 1915. Its stores are located primarily Midwestern states situated in a variety of shopping center developments, including regional enclosed shopping malls, lifestyle centers and power centers. For more information, visit www.gordmans.com.