Strategy

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate announced it has negotiated 10 new store openings for The Vitamin Shoppe in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The Vitamin Shoppe, is a leading multichannel specialty retailer and contract manufacturer of nutritional products with 700+ stores throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

The Vitamin Shoppe Pennsylvania locations: Chadds Ford, Fairless Hills, Feasterville, Lancaster, Paoli, Philadelphia, Dickson City/Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group announced the appointment of John Dattilo as director, real estate of the commercial & industrial division, to the Chicago office. Dattilo will oversee the analysis, acquisition and sale of industrial real estate assets.

Veteran retail information technology executive Kathy Persian is the new CIO at a leading integrated food retailing company.

The Schwan Food Company named Kathy Persian senior VP and CIO with responsibility for the strategic direction and execution of the company’s information services department.

Walmart said it will close 269 stores worldwide this year, including many of its smallest stores, in an unprecedented move CEO Doug McMillon characterized as being more disciplined about growth.

A CVS store is expected to open on the Las Vegas strip in May, according to a report by Vegas Inc. published Tuesday. It will be CVS' fourth location to Walgreens' five, the report noted. "They've really been popping up quickly," Ray Germain, associate VP investments with Marcus & Millichap told Vegas Inc. "It's crazy what you'll pay for a little packet of Advil. (Vegas Inc.)

In pursuit of its altruistic mission of creating a better everyday life for people, Ikea’s efforts go beyond selling opening price point home goods in cavernous stores.

This year's Ikea Foundation Soft Toys for Education campaign, which ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 26, raised over $1.4 million in the U.S. alone through soft toys, Ikea Family children's books and card games sales.

Winter Garden, Fla. -- The Sembler Company has completed construction on the final outparcel at the 1.15 million sq. ft. Winter Garden Village located in Winter Garden, Florida.

Pei Wei Asian Diner and Mattress One will occupy the new 7,200-sq. ft. building, marking complete build-out of the development originally started in 2006.

Concord, California-based specialty beverage retailer BevMo is ensuring customers have easy access to products, whether they are in one of its 157 stores or online.