Petaluma online retailer Athleta opening more stores

<p>Athleta, the women's athletic apparel retailer based in Petaluma, is expanding to the East Coast by opening two stores in New York City.</p><p>Gap Inc., which owns Athleta, said Wednesday it plans to open 50 Athleta stores by 2013.</p><p>Athleta was founded in 1998 as a catalogue and online retailer offering specialized activewear for women including yoga, running, swimming and skiing apparel. The company was purchased by Gap Inc. in 2008 for $150 million.</p><p>The first Athleta store was opened in Mill Valley about a year ago, and the second store opened in San Francisco in January. There are no immediate plans to open an Athleta store in Sonoma County, but Jessica Gerber, store manager in Mill Valley, said it's a possibility.</p><p>“Our eyes are wide open, and we want to put stores where our customers want them,” Gerber said.</p><p>The stores offer free fitness classes and kiosks that link to the Athleta website to help customers access additional products and sizes.</p>