Finance & Capital Management

The Bon-Ton Stores says its holiday sales were negatively affected by unseasonably warm weather in November.

The company announced that its same-store sales for the nine-week holiday period ended Jan. 2 decreased 1.6%. Total sales for the combined months of November and December were $784.4 million, a decrease of 1.5% from sales of $796.4 million in the prior year nine-week holiday period.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Forest City Realty Trust announced that it has closed the sale of 625 Fulton Street, a development site in Brooklyn, New York. The Rabsky Group purchased the property for $158 million, of which $100 million was paid at closing with the balance due in 90 days.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of The Oaks of Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Illinois. Newport Capital Partners acquired the 67,143-sq. ft. property on behalf of Newport Fund II for $18.25 million.

The Oaks of Oak Brook is located at the northwest corner of Kingery Highway (Illinois Route 83) and 16th Street. The center features a tenant lineup including: Panera Bread, Athletico, Wells Fargo and Sleepy’s.

Holiday sales declined at Best Buy and the company reduced earlier guidance even though CEO Hubert Joly said the company’s seasonal strategy was well-executed. What’s up with that?

In fact, lackluster consumer interest in electronics led Best Buy to report a decline in same store sales of 1.4% over the nine week period ended Jan. 2. Revenue declined .8%.

Publix Super Markets is getting a new CEO after Ed Crenshaw announced his retirement on Wednesday.

The company announced that Crenshaw will step down effective April 30. Upon Crenshaw’s retirement, current company President Todd Jones will become president and CEO. 

Sheetz, the family-owned and operated convenience store chain, announced it will invest more than $15 million to raise the wages of store employees across the company. And it is doing so without cutting back on hours for full-time employees.

Sundance is gearing up for major retail expansion.

The lifestyle apparel, art and home furnishings brand, founded by Robert Redford in 1969, has long operated a successful catalog and e-commerce site, along with a handful of physical stores. But in remarks at the recent ICR investor conference, CEO Matey Erdos said the company is planning to open up to 150 locations in the coming years.

Under new ownership and management, a revamped RadioShack is working to transform its remaining 1,720 stores, as well as its online presence, according to the Star-Telegram. “It was herculean to get the stores back into position, and they’re proof of what people want and expect,” said chief marketing officer Michael Tatelman. [Star-Telegram]

Publix Super Markets named a new CEO to replace current chief executive Ed Crenshaw, who announced his retirement on Wednesday.

The company said that Crenshaw will step down effective April 30, 2016. Upon his retirement, current company president Todd Jones will become president and CEO.

Supervalu wants to unlock the value of its Save-A-Lot division with a planned spinoff, but the 1,336 store division did little to enhance its appeal to investors with a weak showing in the third quarter.