Corporate Governance

Deerfield Park, Ill. – Walgreen Co. reported a healthy 68% surge in net earnings during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to $695 million from $413 million in the same period a year earlier.

Net sales rose about 6%, to $18.3 billion from $17.3 billion, while same-store sales grew 5.4%.

Indianapolis -- Finish Line reported net earnings of $1.59 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a return to profitability after reporting a net loss of $809,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Consolidated net sales were $364.5 million, up about 23% from $296.6 million and ahead of the $353 million projected by Wall Street.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack has opened its newest Manhattan location as a pop-up concept store at Penn Station. The limited-time-only location is the third RadioShack pop-up store to open in Manhattan.

In addition, RadioShack has opened a total of eight concept stores in the Manhattan area. The newest pop-up opened five days after construction began.

Seattle – Nordstrom plans to open two new Nordstrom Rack stores in fall 2014. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft. stores will be located at Tempe Marketplace in Tempe, Ariz. and Plaza at Jordan Creek in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The Tempe property is owned and managed by Vestar and the Plaza at Jordan Creek is being co-developed by Hurd Real Estate Services, Inc. and Signature Real Estate Services, Inc.

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company has been added to the Nasdaq -100 Index, effective with the market open on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. Shares of TSCO will also be included in the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (Nasdaq: QQQ).

"We are proud to be joining this elite group of public companies traded on the Nasdaq exchange," said Anthony Crudele, executive VP and CFO. "Being added to the Nasdaq-100 Index is a reflection of Tractor Supply Company's significant growth and its stock performance.”

Batavia, Ill. – Discount grocer Aldi is launching a five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the United States. The chain launched its expansion efforts with the decision to build its regional headquarters and distribution center in Moreno Valley, Calif.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR Corp. has announced he lease-up and construction of Seabrook Commons, a 380,000-sq.-ft. power center slated to open in the summer of 2014 in Seabrook, N.H.

Anchored by Wal-Mart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetSmart, Michaels, Ulta, Five Below and Panera, the center will open 95% leased.

The trade area has a population of 251,000 people and an average household income of approximately $90,000.

Phoenix — Jones Lang LaSalle is expanding its retail brokerage platform into Phoenix. Tyson Switzenberg will lead the firm’s new Phoenix practice. Senior Associate John Reva and Associate Trask Switzenberg will join him.

Chicago — Jones Lang LaSalle Retail has announced the expansion of its Midwest platform with the addition of Sylvia Payette as the new Midwest property management lead.

Tucson, Ariz. — Sidecar, a craft beer and cocktail bar, plans to open a 963-sq.-ft. upscale lounge at Broadway Village in Tucson. Slated to open in March of 2014, the bar will seat 40 people inside and 12 to 15 people on a patio.

Commercial Retail Advisors represented the landlord, CRI Broadway Village Partners in the transaction. Sidecar handled the lease negotiations itself.