Finance & Capital Management

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group announced that Gary M. Talarico joined the firm as president and CEO reporting to the Board of Directors. Michael Frieze will assume the role of chairman, board of directors. 

Prior to joining Gordon Brothers Group, Talarico he was managing partner of Cora Street Partners, an advisory boutique. From 2004 to 2009, he was a managing director of Sun Capital Partners.

New York -- Borders Group inched closer to liquidation after a 5 p.m. Sunday deadline passed and no bidders emerged to keep the bankrupt chain in business. 

Late last week, investor Najafi Cos. decided to drop out of an effort to keep Borders' remaining 400 stores open.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced Thursday that the president of its Chicago-area Dominick’s Finer Foods division, Don Keprta, has resigned.

“Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick’s stores. His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers. We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum,” said chairman, president and CEO Steve Burd.

COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores reported total sales of $368.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended July 2.  This represents an increase of 6.3% over total sales of $346.5 million for the same quarter last year.  

New York — Five Below on Friday made its Michigan debut, opening five stores in the Detroit metro area. The chain specializes in “extreme value” merchandise for teens and pre-teens, with no item priced more than $5.

New York — Francesca's Holdings Corp. will price its initial public offering of 10 million shares between $14 and $16 a share, the Houston Business Journal reported. 

The women’s specialty apparel retailer will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol FRAN, the report said.

In March 2011, private equity firm CCMP Capital acquired a controlling interest in Francesca’s, which operates 160 stores. 

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. president John Haugh said Thursday that he will resign as the company’s president, as reported by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Haugh’s resignation is effective July 22, according to an SEC filing. His successor hasn’t been named, but current duties will be filled in the interim by Chief Financial and Operations Officer Tina Klocke, Chief Entertainment Officer Teresa Kroll and Chief Executive Maxine Clark.

Haugh has been at the helm since 2009.

Saudi Arabia — Children’s retailer Naartjie Kids said Thursday it opened its first Saudi Arabia flagship store on July 9 in the Riyadh Gallery Mall.  The company said six additional Saudi Arabia stores are slated to open this month.

Washington, D.C. — Grosenor Americas announced that tapas restaurant Boqueria will open a 5,331-sq.-ft. restaurant in a former Penang Malaysian Cuisine space in Washington, D.C.

Boqueria, which operates two New York City locations, is slated to open fourth quarter 2011.

Grosvenor Americas also announced that Irish Whiskey will open a 3,815-sq.-ft. bar in the adjacent former Porters Dining Saloon space.

Pleasanton, Calif.— Safeway Inc. announced that the president of its Chicago-area Dominick’s Finer Foods division, Don Keprta, has resigned. Brian Baer, Dominick’s CFO and VP of finance, will assume the role of acting president of Dominick’s.