Starbucks is keeping good on its latest national initiative.    The coffee giant said it will open a store in Dallas, in spring 2018, and Trenton, New Jersey, later this year, as part of its program to invest in at least 15 underserved communities across the U.S. by 2018. To date, Starbucks has opened six similar stores, including in Ferguson, Missouri, central Phoenix, and East Baltimore.  

Sears Holdings Corp. has bought itself a little more time with regard to the maturity of some debt. It also has offloaded some of pension liability.      The retailer announced on Tuesday it has reached an agreement to repay $100 million of its secured $500 million loan facility at its original maturity in July, and extend the remaining amount until January 2018. The agreement includes an option to extend the maturity for an additional six months, to July 2018.  

Walmart  is stepping up its commitment to its workers who serve in the military by covering the difference when an employee's military salary is less than what the person makes working at the store.  

The countdown is on to the highly-anticipated U.S. debut of a sequel to the popular holiday-themed movie “Love Actually.” 

Walmart is the subject of a federal lawsuit involving its alleged treatment of pregnant workers.   

There’s been a new twist in the U.S. lawsuit over Wal-Mart’s alleged bribery in Mexico.  

The best thing to do about asbestos? Leave it alone — if the structure is safe.

That was one of the takeaways from the SPECS session, “Hazardous Building Materials Among Us.”

Asbestos was a mainstay in both commercial and residential buildings for decades because, simply put, it was a cheap and readily available lifesaver, explained speaker Michael Ebel, VP and principal scientist at Amec Foster Wheeler.

“It was known as the ‘Miracle Mineral,’ heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and a poor electrical conductor,” Ebel said.

Five dynamic retail and restaurant brands — Altar’d State, Bentley’s Pet Stuff, MOD Pizza, Sugarfina and Warby Parker — took home the honors as the winners of Chain Store Age’s annual Breakout Retailer Awards.

The awards, selected by CSA’s editorial board and sponsored by Paint Folks, recognize innovative retail and restaurant concepts that are on their way up —brands that have crossed the “newbie” line, and are well positioned for growth, in store, online, or both.