Strategy

Whatever you have planned for Saturday, Oct. 10, specialty apparel retailer Ross Dress for Less will probably be busier.

The Ross Stores Inc. banner is opening six new stores, including three in a new market, as well as relocating a store.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners announced the purchase of Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, Florida, which will be added to Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund. The 123,000 sq. ft. shopping center is currently 98% occupied and is anchored by Publix and also includes Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree.

Citing favorable market conditions and a desire to “de-risk” its pension plan, nearly 14,000 participants in J.C. Penney’s retirement plan opted to receive lump sum payments.

Staples is bucking the Black Thursday trend by making a statement, literally, about closing its stores on Thanksgiving Day in order to allow its customers, employees and their families to enjoy the holiday.

The retailer issued a statement on Thursday saying that despite being open on Thanksgiving Day the past two years, this year it says customers and employees should have the chance to stay home with family and friends. Stores will open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.

British retailer John Lewis has opened one of its largest department stores ever, in the just-opened Grand Central shopping center in Birmingham.

The four-level, 250,000-sq.-ft. department store has a strikingly contemporary design and features several new services and concepts, including a new fashion and lifestyle department, loved&found, and the first John Lewis-branded spa, &Beauty. There is also a market stall-styled food offering, The Place to Eat.

Midwest discounter Meijer tapped a former store pharmacist who worked his way up in the company as its next president.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer announced that Rick Keyes, who joined the company 26 years ago as a pharmacist in Columbus, Ohio, has been appointed as president. He will succeed James Kevin "J.K." Symancyk, who is leaving Meijer, effective Oct. 9, to become the CEO of Texas-based retailer Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced the addition of Vic Pildes as senior VP of development and anchor leasing. In this role, Pildes will be responsible for development and municipal related activities for new projects, assist in the identification of new acquisition opportunities and lead anchor leasing efforts throughout Cullinan’s portfolio.

Kroger has a history of successful private brand launches and it is putting that track record to the test with a new globally inspired  line called HemisFares.