Corporate Governance

New York -- Whole Foods Market has inked a deal for a new location in the Bryant Park area of Manhattan – on Sixth Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets.

A Wall Street Journal report, which cited unnamed sources, said that the grocer has agreed to take 10,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 22,000 sq. ft. on the second floor at 1095 Sixth Ave., a building owned by a Blackstone Group fund.

Norwalk, Conn. -- GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance said it is administrative agent on a $250 million senior revolving credit facility for regional sporting goods retailer Dunham’s Athleisure Corp.

The proceeds will support ongoing working capital needs and new store growth.

New York -- Swiss watchmaker Bovet 1822 will open a New York City flagship, just its fourth boutique in the world.

The 50 Central Park South store in the heart of midtown Manhattan is in the base of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The classic yet modern space incorporates walnut furniture lined with suede.

Tucson, Ariz. — Floor & Décor has signed a long-term lease for a 58,205-sq.-ft. space at ABC Retail Center in Tucson, Ariz. It will be the specialty retailer’s first location in Tucson.

CBRE represented Floor & Décor in the transaction. The landlord, ABC Broadway/Kolb Center LLC of Tucson represented itself.

Algonquin, Ill. — Fuddruckers has opened a 6,600-sq.-ft. fast casual restaurant in the Algonquin Commons lifestyle center in Algonquin, Ill., a northwest suburb of Chicago. The new restaurant replaces a Cheeseburger in Paradise, according to Luby’s, Inc., the parent company of both brands and the owner of the site.

The Algonquin Commons restaurant will showcase Fuddruckers’ new interior scheme, which pays homage to the chains roadhouse look, while refreshing the look to cater to today’s more sophisticated tastes.

By Graeme McVie, VP, LoyaltyOne, [email protected]

Statistics tell the story: the U.S. population is getting older at a dramatic rate. The Department of Health & Human Service’s Administration on Aging estimates that nearly 55 million people – nearly one-in-six – will be age 65 or older by 2020, compared with 40 million in 2010.

Millburn, N.J. – A 30-year-old man was fatally shot during a carjacking at The Mall at Short Hills, an upscale shopping center in Millburn, N.J. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, the man and his wife were entering their Range Rover on a parking deck at around 9 p.m., on Dec. 15, following an evening of holiday shopping at the mall when two men fired multiple shots.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart India is laying off roughly 100-150 senior to mid-level employees. The Financial Press quotes anonymous executives as saying Wal-Mart India, which currently employs about 1,100 workers, beefed up staffing in anticipation of an expansion that has now been put on hold.

Wal-Mart runs 20 wholesale stores in India. The retailer previously ran them in a joint venture with Indian company Bharti Enterprises, but since that partnership was dissolved in October 2013 Wal-Mart India has been taking on Bharti employees.

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S, Department of Commerce will reportedly start meeting with companies including Facebook, Apple and Wal-Mart in February 2014 to create voluntary guidelines for the commercial use of facial recognition technology. According to Bloomberg, the Department of Commerce plans to have formal guidelines ready for release in June 2014.