Corporate Governance

Increased fulfillment costs and other expense pressures caused Amazon.com to report a second quarter loss of $7 million even though sales increased 22% to $15.7 billion.

The company said its sales would have increased 25% were it not for a $392 million headwind related to unfavorable foreign exchange rates. The net loss of $7 million, or two cents a share, was a reversal from the same period the prior year when a profit of $7 million, or one cent a share, was reported.

New York -- Barneys New York is getting rid of it Co-op brand moniker.

In a Women's Wear Daily report, the upscale retailer said it will convert and rebrand its existing Co-op stores as Barneys. All the existing Co-op stores will be remerchandised and remodeled, the report said. The Co-op concept was developed as a lower-priced, entry-level brand for younger shoppers.

New York -- Walmart’s Silccon Valley hub, called @WalmartLabs, announced on Wednesday it has acquired Torbit, a cloud-based website acceleration company.

Walmart described Torbit as a “front-end optimization innovator that has been focused on making the web a faster and better place.” Torbit is known for developing measurement, analytics and performance improvement tools to help companies identify and enhance their overall site performance.

New York -- Paul Rutenis, the top buyer for J.C. Penney's newly made-over home department, has left the company, according to a report by Citigroup.  

According to Citigroup analyst Deborah Weinswig, the prices of many of the home items have reduced consumer demand.

In related news, Penney has decided not to renew its contracts with marketing consultants Sergio Zyman and Jeff Herbert, which expire this month, Weinseig noted.  

Dallas — Cypress Equities has acquired the Glendale Marketplace in Glendale, Calif. The 154,420-sq.-ft. open-air retail and entertainment center is adjacent to the Americana at Brand.

National retail brands represented in the center include HomeGoods, Old Navy, Starbucks, GNC and Outback Steakhouse.

SRS Real Estate Partners will represent Cypress in lease negotiations.

Alameda, Calif. — Later this summer, Five Guys Burgers and Fries will open a 1,781-sq.-ft. restaurant in Alameda South Shore Center, in Alameda, Calif., said Jamestown, a fund manager offering core and opportunistic property funds.

Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank represented Jamestown in the transaction. SRSRE represented Five Guys.

Indianapolis — Kite Realty Group has leased a 31,541-sq.-ft. location in El Paso’s Sunland Towne Center.

Kite Realty and RJL Realty Advisors represented the landlord, KRG Sunland. Venture Commercial represented Sprout’s.

Pittsburgh — GNC Holdings has announced that it is expanding its retail presence in China with the opening of its first stand-alone store in Shanghai. GNC plans to open an additional 25 locations in China over the next 12 months.

The company currently operates more than 60 store-within-a-store locations in eight grocery, convenience and health and wellness chains in China.

New York -- Paragon Theaters has announced plans to bring a 10-screen theater to Posner Commons in Davenport, Fla. The theater will serve as the entertainment anchor for the 630,000-sq.-ft. regional power center, offering Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy and other. Paragon said the new theater would open in the summer of 2014.

National retail tenants at Posner Commons include Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy and others.

New York -- Berkowitz Development Group has inked a lease renewal with Sports Authority for 43,000-sq. ft. at Kendallgate Shopping Center in Miami.

As part of a nationwide effort, the retailer will redesign the store’s interior and incorporate updated exterior signage.