Strategy

Aguora Hills, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased space in Aguora Hills, Calif. to GNC, which will open a new store at Twin Oaks Shopping Center.

GNC has leased 1,050 sq. ft., bringing the center to 97% leased.  The tenant is slated to open for business in fall 2011.  

Aguora Hills, a 98,399-sq.-ft. shopping center, is anchored by Ralphs, alongside RadioShack, Rite Aid, Wells Fargo Bank and Starbucks. 

New York -- Borders Group inched closer to liquidation after a 5 p.m. Sunday deadline passed and no bidders emerged to keep the bankrupt chain in business. 

Late last week, investor Najafi Cos. decided to drop out of an effort to keep Borders' remaining 400 stores open.

Denton, Md. -- Walmart will break ground on a new supercenter in Denton, Maryland, the week of September 19. The 152,888-sq.-ft.  store will also feature a Subway.

Walmart currently operates 35 stores and 12 Sam's Clubs in the state of Maryland.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced Thursday that the president of its Chicago-area Dominick’s Finer Foods division, Don Keprta, has resigned.

“Don has contributed significantly to the Dominick’s stores. His commitment and innovation helped the stores evolve to best serve the Chicagoland customers. We are fortunate that he has produced a team that is prepared to continue to build on our current momentum,” said chairman, president and CEO Steve Burd.

COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores reported total sales of $368.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended July 2.  This represents an increase of 6.3% over total sales of $346.5 million for the same quarter last year.  

CARLISLE, Pa . — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold is hoping to attract local and diverse suppliers to its stores in the markets in which it operates.

New York — Five Below on Friday made its Michigan debut, opening five stores in the Detroit metro area. The chain specializes in “extreme value” merchandise for teens and pre-teens, with no item priced more than $5.

New York — U.K. fashion retailer Topshop in March will open its third U.S. location, a 20,000-sq.ft. Topshop/Topman flagship in Las Vegas’ Fashion Show Mall.  

 As previously reported,  the company’s second U.S. store is due to open this fall, in Chicago. 

New York — Francesca's Holdings Corp. will price its initial public offering of 10 million shares between $14 and $16 a share, the Houston Business Journal reported. 

The women’s specialty apparel retailer will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol FRAN, the report said.

In March 2011, private equity firm CCMP Capital acquired a controlling interest in Francesca’s, which operates 160 stores. 

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. president John Haugh said Thursday that he will resign as the company’s president, as reported by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Haugh’s resignation is effective July 22, according to an SEC filing. His successor hasn’t been named, but current duties will be filled in the interim by Chief Financial and Operations Officer Tina Klocke, Chief Entertainment Officer Teresa Kroll and Chief Executive Maxine Clark.

Haugh has been at the helm since 2009.