Labor & Employment

Hartford, Conn. -- Connecticut environmental regulators on Tuesday said that CVS has agreed to pay a nearly $269,000 penalty to settle allegations that the chain's drug stores improperly disposed of photo processing and pharmaceutical wastewater.

The state Department of Environmental Protection announced that dozens of the chain's Connecticut stores this year and last year discharged photo-processing chemicals into onsite septic systems or sanitary sewers without permits.

Retailers and developers from around the country are preparing to attend the International Council of Shopping Centers’ New York deal-making convention in New York City on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. Chain Store Age talked with Ivan L. Friedman, president and CEO of New York City-based retail real estate advisory firm RCS Real Estate Advisors, about what the industry has in store for the New York show and beyond.

As retailers prepare to attend the New York deal-making show in early December, how would you describe the current state of retail?

New York City -- J. Crew Group is close to an agreement to be bought by TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners for about $2.8 billion, according to reports by the Associated Press, Bloomberg and other news groups.

TPG and Leonard Green would pay $43.50 a share in cash, or 16% more than J. Crew’s closing share price yesterday, according to various reports.

Washington - Retailers have big  plans for Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving), according to Shop.org’s eHoliday Survey, conducted by BIGresearch. Nearly nine in ten (88.2%) retailers will have a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from  72.2% in 2007.

Bentonville, Ark.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday it will open its first four stores in Washington, D.C., as part of the retailer’s effort to increase its urban expansion stride.

Wal-Mart said it plans to open the smaller-format urban stores in Washington, D.C. in late 2012, and said it has met little resistance from the area. The retailer said its poll of 800 locals found nearly three-quarters of Washingtonians favored Wal-Mart coming to the city.