Strategy

Minneapolis -- Opus Development Corp. announced that John Gelderman has been hired as senior VP national retail development.

In his new position, Gelderman will lead the current Opus retail team, oversee all existing retail development and will be responsible for seeking all new retail development opportunities across the country.

Coral Springs, Fla. -- Sephora at J.C. Penney will open a 1,500-sq.-ft. location at Coral Square Mall, in Coral Springs, in mid-April. Francesca’s Collections is also slated to open in mid-April.

Coral Square Mall, owned by Simon Property Group, features anchor stores Macy’s/Ladies Apparel, Macy’s/Men's, Children & Home Store, J.C. Penney and Sears, as well as more than 120 specialty stores and eateries.

Los Angeles -- Citadel Outlets, Los Angeles's only outlet shopping mall, announced that Tilly's, The Children's Place and U.S. Polo Assn opened in March.

The Children's Place (4,994 sq. ft.) opened on March 29 next to Nautica. Tilly's (5,162 sq. ft.) opened March 21, and the new U.S. Polo Assn. store (3,258 sq. ft.) opened March 9 next to Justice. 

In other center news, Rockport opened up its doors in February, Sprockets Kids relocated within the center, and Hurley, Van's and Bass remodeled and expanded their existing stores.

Paramus, N.J. -- New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Welco Realty, an X Team partner, announced that it has signed a lease representing Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft for 30,000 sq. ft. for a flagship store in the former Comp USA space in Paramus, N.J.

This store will be one of the largest format stores for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, its first store in the Paramus market. 
 

Irvine, Calif. -- Private-equity firm Apax Partners will acquire California-based ERP software range developer, Epicor Software and Activant Solutions, a provider of business management software solutions. Apax will pay a total of $2 billion for the acquisitions and combine the two companies.

New York City -- Satellite TV company Dish Network Corp. said Wednesday that it won the auction for Blockbuster with a bid valued at $228 million in cash. The transaction, expected to close the deal during the second quarter, needs bankruptcy court approval.

As of Tuesday, Dish, investor Carl Icahn and a group of debt holders were the three remaining bidders for the Dallas movie-rental chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in September.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- DSW Inc. has announced the appointment of Roger Rawlins to SVP and GM DSW.com, and Jennie Wilson as SVP finance and controller.

LOS ANGELES -- American Apparel announced that it has launched its first line of jeans called, "Made in USA."

"Jeans are an iconic, essential part of the modern wardrobe, just like the t-shirt. No one does basics like American Apparel. We've mastered the basic t-shirt, now we're getting excited about jeans," said Dov Charney, CEO and founder of American Apparel.

According to the company, the first styles in the American Apparel Jeans line will be constructed of a 14 ounce denim made of 100% cotton.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced the completion of its private-label credit card portfolio transfer to Capital One Financial Corporation, effective as of April 1, 2011. Capital One has acquired the more than 20 million existing Kohl’s Charge accounts and through the seven-year agreement will offer private-label credit cards to new and existing Kohl’s customers.

SAN FRANCISCO and CINCINNATI — A Procter & Gamble potato chip brand will merge with a snack company in a $2.35 billion deal.