Strategy

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust has announced the acquisition of Alamo Ranch in a joint venture with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust. The 469,031-sq.-ft. shopping center is located in San Antonio, Texas, and was purchased for approximately $92.2 million.

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group said that Charles Boscarino has joined the company as the newly appointed VP of leasing. 

Boscarino replaces Bobby Eggleston, who has been promoted to VP of RMC and will be involved in the areas of acquisitions and new development.

Boscarino previously served as VP real estate and store development for Bealls Stores, where he was primarily responsible for the development, expansion, and marketing of 500 stores in 14 states.

Garden City, N.Y. -- Sabre Real Estate Group said that Scott Sher has been named senior VP of the retail real estate brokerage firm.

Formerly director of real estate-northeastern region at Katz & Associates Corp., of Pearl River, Sher specializes in tenant and landlord representation in the New Jersey, Manhattan, Outer Boroughs, Westchester and Long Island markets.
 

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee, will retire on June 1, the company said Wednesday.

Jurgens, 62, began working for Hy-Vee 42 years ago while a student at Iowa State University, taking a full-time position after his graduation. In 1995, he was named SVP and chief administrative officer, becoming president in 2001, CEO in 2003 and chairman in 2006. Jurgens said he will ask the company's board of directors to elect president and COO Randy Edeker as chairman and CEO.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation is putting its faith in the holidays by upgrading its spending forecast for the season.

After initially anticipating sales growth of 2.8%, the NRF said it now expects holiday sales to rise 3.8% to $469.1 billion. The projection may be lower than the 5.2% increase the retail industry saw last year, but the group said a number of factors, such as strong year-over-year sales and the fact that not all consumers have completed their holiday shopping lists, could provide the industry with a great gift after all.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports continued its streak of strong same-store sales for the third quarter, reporting that same-store for the quarter ended Nov. 26 sales increased 7% versus last year’s increase of 10.2%. Net income for the quarter was $23 million, or 21 cents per share, which included an income tax provision of $12.4 million.

SAN FRANCISCO — JoS. A. Bank's mobile checkout on Black Friday saw an increase of over 3,000%, compared with its previous daily average.

The m.josbank.com site, powered by 5th Finger's RedShop, has been in operation since early 2011 and offers on-the-go shoppers a detailed product catalog, reviews, educational tools and offers. "JoS. A. Bank considers mobile a critical part of its multichannel strategy, and another way to provide customers with a friendly, quick, and convenient shopping experience,” said Pete Zophy, divisional VP of Ecommerce.

Dallas — Davaco has acquired Ecoxera, an Austin, Texas-based retail sustainability consulting firm. Justin Doak, who is the founder of Ecoxera, will continue to serve as president.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Ric Jurgens, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee plans to retire on June 1, 2012.

Jurgens, said he will ask the company's board to elect Randy Edeker, president and COO, to succeed him.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said Thursday that it has upwardly revised its holiday forecast, now expecting holiday sales to rise 3.8% this year to a record $469.1 billion. 

NRF’s initial forecast, announced on October 6, called for anticipated sales growth of 2.8%. While a 3.8% sales increase is considerably above the 10-year average sales increase of 2.6%, it is still lower than the 5.2% increase the retail industry saw last year, said NRF.