Strategy

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, and Zale Corp., announced a national agreement between Alliance Data's Canadian coalition loyalty business and Zale Canada. The agreement provides for Zale's Canadian brands, Peoples Jewellers and Mappins Jewellers, to participate as the exclusive sponsors in the fine jewelry category in the Canadian Air Miles Reward Program.

Plano, Texas -- The Foundry Big & Tall Supply Co., a new specialty retail concept for big and tall men from J.C. Penney, on Thursday made its retail debut in the Dallas area. Approximately 10 stores are expected to open in the Dallas and Kansas City, Mo., markets by the end of May. The company plans to expand the concept nationwide to 100 stores by 2013, reaching a total of 300 stores over the next five years.

By Jim McNeill and Gary K. Brucker Jr., [email protected], [email protected]

Dallas -- 7-Eleven has signed an agreement to purchase Wilson Farms, a Buffalo-based convenience store chain with 188 locations in New York State, with an expected closing in the second quarter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke said rising gas prices are hurting the chain’s main customers, who are having an even harder time stretching their dollars to the next payday than they did a year ago.

"There's no doubt that rising fuel prices are having an impact on our customers," said Duke at an event that was part of The Wall Street Journal's executive breakfast series,  according to the Associated Press. "There's more pressure."

Seattle -- REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), announced plans to open a new store in Greenville, S.C., this fall. It will be the company’s first location in Asheville, N.C.

The one-story, approximately 22,000-sq.-ft. store will include a bike shop for quick assemblies and repairs, and a seasonal gear rental department for customers looking to test new activities. It will also feature a community space for REI and its local partners to hold outdoor-related classes, presentations and events.

Austin, Texas -- T. Stacy & Associates, who has been involved with some of Austin’s most iconic buildings, announced that it will reconfigure street-level space in its headquarters building at 823 Congress Avenue to a size and quality sufficient to attract a major retailer and that it has begun an aggressive search to find the “perfect tenant.”

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group announced it has acquired Carrollwood Corporate Center in Tampa, Fla., and is expanding and moving its corporate offices to the office building.

The Class A office building encompasses 20,000 sq. ft.
 

Moline, Ill. -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management announced that Citi Trends is entering Moline, Ill., with a lease for 10,137 sq. ft. at City Line Plaza.

The new store is slated to open in June.

The 112,849-sq.-ft. City Line Plaza is anchored by Jewel/Osco and Family Dollar, with other tenants including Papa Johns, Hallmark and Rent-A-Center.
 

Raleigh, N.C. -- Tarrytown, N.Y.-based DLC Management Corp. announced a pair of lease signings that have transformed its Raleigh, N.C., asset Tower Shopping Center.

According to DLC, America’s Kids will open a 26,691-sq.-ft. store, marking the children’s clothing and accessory retailer’s first store in North Carolina. This is also the first America’s Kids store in DLC’s portfolio, and deals at two additional shopping centers are under negotiation.