Finance & Capital Management

Boston -- DJM Realty announced that Josh Podell has joined the company as a specialty retail and outlet consultant.

Podell, who will continue to operate his own real estate consultancy Podell Real Estate Advisors, counts among his retail experience a lengthy stint as VP real estate for Jones Retail Corp., a division of Jones Apparel Group.

Add Sherwin-Williams to the list of retailers celebrating store expansion milestones this year.

Dollar General opened its 10,000th location earlier in the year, followed by the 5,000th AutoZone store and more recently Walgreens opened its 8,000th store. Now, Sherwin-Williams has opened its 3,500 stores in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. The 4,000-sq.-ft. store is the 70th retail location the company has opened this year and its 147th location in California.

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corp. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 27 fell 22.6% to $46.9 million from $60.6 million in the year-ago period.

Sales edged up 2.8% to $311.5 million, but same-store sales dipped 4% in the quarter.

During fiscal 2012, the company said it maintains its plans to open approximately 124 new stores, including 98 Crazy 8 stores.

Ridgefield, Conn. -- Schimenti Construction announced it has completed an expansion of its company headquarters in Ridgefield, Conn., doubling the size of the space from 10,000 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft.

The expansion also includes a redesign of the main floor with the creation of a new reception area. A new executive conference room has been added on the first floor, as well as new waiting areas on both floors. A training space has been incorporated into the new design and a new employee café features a Starbucks coffee bar.

Houston -- Francesca's Holdings Corp. reported Wednesday net income of $11 million, compared with $6.1 million in the year-ago period. Sales surged 44% to $72 million, driven by a 16.7% increase in same-store sales as well as 76 new boutique openings since the end of the third quarter last year.

Melrose, Mass. -- Charter Realty & Development Corp. announced that shortly after acquiring Towers Plaza in Melrose, Mass., it has signed a 20-year lease for 29,980 sq. ft. to Whole Foods Market.

Whole Foods will move into a space currently occupied by Johnny’s Foodmaster. The space will undergo a major renovation that will coincide with Charter’s renovation of the balance of the center.

Chicago -- Store opening plans for 2013 are at a four-year high even as positive retail trends tempered with uncertain fiscal policies signal a cautious start to the new year, according to a report released Monday by Jones Lang LaSalle.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2013 National Retail Real Estate Outlook, retailers will open as many as 78,325 stores in the next two years – up 11% from year-end plans in 2011. Construction will add 52 million sq. ft. of space in 2013, more than double the 20 million sq. ft. completed in 2012.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots Inc. reported Tuesday a loss of $6 million for the third quarter, compared with net income of $4.2 million in the year-ago period. Results, however, topped analysts’ earnings expectations.

Revenue slipped 0.4% to $1.13 billion, missing Wall Street’s forecast of $1.3 billion.

The retailer also announced that its CEO Steven Fishman will retire as chairman and CEO after 40 years in retail. Big Lots has launched a search for his successor; Fishman will stay until a new CEO is appointed.