URGI United Retail Grp. (MM)

United Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: �URGI�) today announced that the Company has appointed Mr. Aaron J. Fleishaker to the position of Senior Vice President, Real Estate. Mr. Fleishaker joins United Retail Group with more than 20 years experience in the real estate and retail industries. George Remeta, the Company�s Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, commented: �Expanding the number of our stores is a centerpiece of our growth strategy. While our 5% increase in sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 demonstrates the effectiveness of our merchandise repositioning, our strict site selection criteria for new stores is also an important part of our success as we continue to grow. Aaron�s appointment as Senior Vice President, Real Estate is a critical component of our new store rollout strategy.� Prior to joining United Retail Group, Mr. Fleishaker most recently served as Senior Managing Director, Equity Investments with DJM Asset Management, where he formed a new division focused on the acquisition of value-added real estate. Previously, Mr. Fleishaker served as Executive Vice President at KIMCO Realty Corporation and was responsible for oversight of nationwide Leasing, Property Management and Construction as well as the redevelopment and re-leasing of more than 30 former Kmart locations. He held the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Director of Real Estate at Modell�s Sporting Goods from 1992 to 2002 and also served as General Counsel for Dresses for Less from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Fleishaker began his career in legal positions at Goldberg, Weprine and Ustin and Shearson Lehman Hutton Touche Ross & Company. Mr. Fleishaker holds a BS of Business Administration from Boston University School of Management and a JD from Boston University School of Law. Mr. Remeta added: �We are very excited to have Aaron join our executive team in this role focused on real estate and the expansion of our store base. Aaron brings a high degree of experience not only in real estate but also in the specialty store retail industry. We are confident in his ability to make strong contributions to United Retail Group as we continue to implement our growth plans and build on the strengths of our business to maximize shareholder value over the long-term.� United Retail Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of large-size women�s fashion apparel, footwear and accessories featuring AVENUE� brand merchandise. The Company operates 490 AVENUE� stores with 2,157,000 square feet of selling space, as well as the AVENUE.COM� website at www.avenue.com. The above release contains certain brief forward-looking statements concerning the Company�s operations and performance. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are summary in nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company�s control. Accordingly, the Company�s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. The following additional factors, among others, could also affect the Company�s actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; uncertainties relating to execution of the Company�s product repositioning strategy; store lease expirations; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the ability of the Company�s manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs. The reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company�s operations and performance. The Company does not intend to update the forward-looking statements contained in the above release, which should not be relied upon as current after today�s date. United Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: "URGI") today announced that the Company has appointed Mr. Aaron J. Fleishaker to the position of Senior Vice President, Real Estate. Mr. Fleishaker joins United Retail Group with more than 20 years experience in the real estate and retail industries. George Remeta, the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer, commented: "Expanding the number of our stores is a centerpiece of our growth strategy. While our 5% increase in sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 demonstrates the effectiveness of our merchandise repositioning, our strict site selection criteria for new stores is also an important part of our success as we continue to grow. Aaron's appointment as Senior Vice President, Real Estate is a critical component of our new store rollout strategy." Prior to joining United Retail Group, Mr. Fleishaker most recently served as Senior Managing Director, Equity Investments with DJM Asset Management, where he formed a new division focused on the acquisition of value-added real estate. Previously, Mr. Fleishaker served as Executive Vice President at KIMCO Realty Corporation and was responsible for oversight of nationwide Leasing, Property Management and Construction as well as the redevelopment and re-leasing of more than 30 former Kmart locations. He held the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Director of Real Estate at Modell's Sporting Goods from 1992 to 2002 and also served as General Counsel for Dresses for Less from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Fleishaker began his career in legal positions at Goldberg, Weprine and Ustin and Shearson Lehman Hutton Touche Ross & Company. Mr. Fleishaker holds a BS of Business Administration from Boston University School of Management and a JD from Boston University School of Law. Mr. Remeta added: "We are very excited to have Aaron join our executive team in this role focused on real estate and the expansion of our store base. Aaron brings a high degree of experience not only in real estate but also in the specialty store retail industry. We are confident in his ability to make strong contributions to United Retail Group as we continue to implement our growth plans and build on the strengths of our business to maximize shareholder value over the long-term." United Retail Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of large-size women's fashion apparel, footwear and accessories featuring AVENUE(R) brand merchandise. The Company operates 490 AVENUE(R) stores with 2,157,000 square feet of selling space, as well as the AVENUE.COM(R) website at www.avenue.com. The above release contains certain brief forward-looking statements concerning the Company's operations and performance. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are summary in nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. The following additional factors, among others, could also affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; uncertainties relating to execution of the Company's product repositioning strategy; store lease expirations; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the ability of the Company's manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs. The reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and performance. The Company does not intend to update the forward-looking statements contained in the above release, which should not be relied upon as current after today's date.