Corporate Governance

New York - Brooks Brothers has named designer Zac Posen as creative director for its signature women's collection and accessories. In this new role, Posen will direct the current Brooks Brothers design and merchant teams and will be responsible for the women's collection and affect a variety of areas including brand development and presentation for the women's label.

Posen's first women's collection for Brooks Brothers will debut in spring 2016 and will be available worldwide. Posen launched his eponymous collection in 2001.

Dublin, Calif. — dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, will open its 23rd new store in Florida on June 28 in the Hallandale Shopping Center in Hallandale Beach, Florida. When this store opens, dd’s Discounts will operate more than 140 locations in 12 states. The retailer is on schedule to complete its expansion plan to open approximately 20 locations in 2014.

Paterson, N.J. — Planet Fitness will open an 18,000-sq.-ft. facility at 100 Hamilton Plaza in Paterson, New Jersey, the facility will occupy the first-floor retail space in the 175,000-sq.-ft. downtown office tower.

Cushman & Wakefield’s East Rutherford, N.J., office represented the building’s owner, Mountain Development Corp. in the transaction. Ripco Real Estate represented the Planet Fitness franchisee, who operates several other regional locations.

Mission Viejo, Calif. — The Shops at Mission Viejo, a Simon Property Group property in Mission Viejo, California, has welcomed Kurt Webb as the new general manager. Webb began working with the center in mid-April and recently relocated to the region. He came on full time as of June 1.

Webb will be responsible for local leasing, tenant relations, building operations, security and marketing efforts. Additionally, he will act as a key liaison for various community and strategic organizations.

Columbus, Ohio — Casto has completed the redevelopment of Sawmill Square shopping center in the Dublin/NW Columbus area of Central Ohio. The redevelopment included the opening of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The center has also added a McAlister’s Deli, the first in Central Ohio. McAlister will join other new tenants, Sally Beauty and GameStop, as well as the existing line-up of retailers including Z Salon, The UPS Store, Thai Orchid, Huntington Bank, Skyline Chili, Burger King, Goodyear and PNC.


 

In its PizzaRev case study series, CSA offers an insider’s look at the conception, initial rollout and growth of the southern California-based fast-casual concept PizzaRev. Likened to “the Chipotle of pizza,” this innovative chain lets customers choose from an artisanal array of toppings to craft their own pizzas very quickly in a high-end stone hearth oven.

WTI expects July 2014 to trend similar to last year for the U.S. as a whole. The East will trend near normal or cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures will be confined to the West. Overall, the peak of the summer is shaping up to be very similar to 2013 but with a few major timing differences. Unlike 2013, the hotter weather in 2014 will be back-end loaded in the month just as back-to-school shopping begins, which is a negative for early fall apparel, but favorable for clearing out summer inventory.

The Rick Dreiling era is coming to an end at Dollar General as the chairman and CEO announced plans to retire next year, initiating a search internally and externally for a successor.

The Finish Line is off to a strong start in fiscal 2015, according to chairman and CEO Glenn Lyon, who credited the company’s omnichannel efforts for its first-quarter success.

The company reported consolidated net sales of $406.5 million, an increase of 15.8% over the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 5%.

New store growth, 13.4% operating margins and totally untapped e-commerce potential failed to impress would-be Michaels investors when the company returned to public ownership Friday, June 27.