Finance & Capital Management

Consumers in the Columbus, Ohio, market will soon have a new option for shopping, dining, working, playing and living.

“Hamilton Quarter is a truly mixed-use, cohesive development with more than 300 acres of office, multi-family residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality and senior living offerings,” said Jason Freeman, development manager at Columbus-based fully integrated real estate services firm CASTO.

One of the nation’s largest franchisees will soon also be operating GNC stores.

Moving ahead with its plan to reduce its corporate-owned store footprint, GNC announced plans to sell 84 company-owned locations to Dallas-based Sun Holdings for about $17 million. The retailer revealed the sale amid disappointing first quarter results.

Amazon.com Inc. swung from loss to profit and significantly boosted net sales during a first quarter that topped analysts expectations.

The world’s largest online retailer reported better-than-expected net income of $513 million, compared to a net loss of $57 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

Retail Properties of America named Paula Maggio to the role of executive VP, general counsel and secretary, effective May 2.

Maggio joins Retail Properties of America following a 16 year career with Strategic Hotels & Resorts where she most recently served as executive VP, general counsel and secretary. Prior to that she practiced law with Altheimer & Gray, where she focused primarily on real estate and hospitality law.

It’s closing time for Sports Authority, which is giving up on reorganization.

An attorney for the sporting goods retailer told the judge in bankruptcy court on Tuesday that the company is no longer pursuing reorganization and exiting Chapter 11. Instead, it will look for buyers to purchase some or all of its remaining stores.

“It has become apparent that the debtors will not reorganize under a plan but instead will pursue a sale,” company attorney Robert Klyman said in court.

Academy Sports + Outdoors has opened a 1.6 million square foot distribution center that dramatically increases the company’s ability to support store expansion and omnichannel initiatives.

The world’s largest social media network showed its chops in the first quarter, reporting impressive increases in revenue, earnings and users that shattered analysts’ expectations.

Facebook reported $2.2 billion in profit for the quarter, ended March 31, up from $1.8 billion in the year-ago period. Revenue totaled $5.38 billion, up 52% over the year ago period.

The man who turned a single struggling bookstore he bought in 1965 into a retail empire is retiring from active duty.

Leonard Riggio, founder and executive chairman of Barnes & Noble Inc., announced that he will retire as chairman in September, following the chain’s annual shareholder meeting.

“I’ve done everything I have wanted to do in business and now it is time for me to pursue the many other endeavors related to my philanthropic and social interests,” said Riggio.