Corporate Governance

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that 7-Eleven has continued its plans for expansion in the New York market by leasing a new 2,300-sq.-ft. storefront at 1235 Second Avenue, on the corner of East 65th Street.

Chicago -- RKF announced that Steve Schwartz and Lara Keene have joined the firm’s Chicago office as directors.

Schwartz and Keene, formerly of Baum Realty Group, mark the latest additions to the RKF Chicago office, which opened this past April as part of the firm’s ongoing expansion into key urban markets nationwide.
 
 

Fort Worth, Texas -- Cypress Equities said that Consilient Restaurants will open an American F+B restaurant at West 7th, the mixed-use project in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 6,215-sq.-ft. restaurant is slated to open in early 2013 and will provide seating for approximately 200.

West 7th offers retail, entertainment, office and residential in a 13-acre setting.
 

New York -- William Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, said that J.C. Penney Co. should start to see “real progress” in early 2013. Ackman made his comments in an interview Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Pershing Square owns about 18% of J.C. Penney.

Washington, D.C. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the announcement that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has reached an agreement with Amazon.com requiring the online retailer to begin collecting state sales tax on purchases made in New Jersey by July 1, 2013.

"Today's announcement ends the practice of giving out-of-state retailers like Amazon.com an unfair advantage over those retailers who are an integral part of communities across New Jersey," said RILA president Sandy Kennedy

New York -- Neiman Marcus is equipping all of its 4,000 associates at its full-line stores with smartphones in an effort to better serve customers, company executives said on the retailer’s recent conference call with analysts.

Neiman’s executives also said the company plans to remodel it stores on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and in Bal Harbour Shops, Bal Harbour, Fla.
 

New York -- Real estate advisory firm RCS Real Estate Advisors said Wednesday that it has been retained by teen retailer Delia’s to evaluate the performance of its real estate portfolio and serve as the outsourced real estate department for all retail locations. 

New York -- J.C. Penney appears to be relenting a bit on the strict non-promotional strategy launched by CEO Ron Johnson.

In a report on CNBC.com, Deutsche Bank analyst Charles Grom said the chain has added five "Best Price Friday" events to its calendar. The first took place the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and another is scheduled for Black Friday in November. Others may occur at peak sales times, according to Grom.

New York -- Levi Strauss & Co. promoted Joelle Mahler, senior VP of Americas Retail, to the new post of executive VP of the company, and president of global retail, effective immediately.

Mahler will be responsible for Levi’s retail operations worldwide, including company-owned, franchise and outlet stores, along with e-commerce.
 

Dallas -- Loyalty and marketing solution-provider Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced Wednesday that it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement to continue providing the turnkey, marketing-driven private label credit card program for Gardner-White Furniture.

Gardner-White is a regional retailer of home furnishings, electronics, mattresses and accessories in the metro Detroit area.