Events

Casto to build project in rundown area of Columbus
Next week, Casto and local officials will stick shovels in the ground in the East Franklinton section of Columbus and signal a major event in the rebuilding of what was the original settlement of Franklin County, Ohio. Columbus five years ago razed the crime-ridden Riverside-Bradley public housing complex in the area on the city’s west side, and it is there that Casto will build River & Rich, a mixed-use project with 230 garden and townhouse apartments and 25,000 sq. ft. of retail.
Starbucks in hiring spree fueled by continuing store expansion
Starbucks Corp. is ramping up its job hiring, here and abroad. It’s also doubling down on its commitment to the nation’s veterans. Hosting its 25th annual shareholders meeting in Seattle, the coffee giant announced plans to create more than 240,000 jobs around the world, including 68,000 jobs in the United States, by 2021.

CSA honors Breakout Retailer Award winners

Chain Store Age honored five dynamic and growing retail and restaurant brands at its annual Breakout Retailer Awards presentation, which was held at CSA’s SPECS 2017 Conference, in Kissimmee, Florida. The Breakout Retailer honorees for 2017 were Altar’d State, Bentley’s Pet Stuff, MOD Pizza, Sugarfina and Warby Parker. The awards were sponsored by Paint Folks, a division of Academy Service Group.
Two retail associations to combine risk events

The Food Marketing Institute and National Retail Federation will combine their existing risk and safety signature events into one cross-industry event starting in 2018. The two groups will sponsor Protect in 2018, according to an announcement made Wednesday at the FMI’s Audit, Safety, Asset Protection Conference in Orlando.
Staten Island outlet project hires top consultant

Developers of a 350,000-sq.-ft. outlet mall in Staten Island’s burgeoning St. George district have looked across the New York Narrows to enlist the help of one of Manhattan’s most noted real estate brokers.
Target to open in Macy’s backyard in NYC

Target Corp. is bringing its small-format store to the heart of Manhattan. The discounter plans to open its first location in mid-town Manhattan, a 43,000-sq.-ft. store in Herald Square, just west of the 34th Street and Broadway intersection, and one block from Penn Station — and across the street from the Macy’s flagship.
Men’s grooming concept plans aggressive expansion in Texas

Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys, a new franchise that bills itself as the lone male grooming option, is set to open its first 50 locations in Texas. Dallas and Houston shops are due by summer, and eight more are expected to be operating in the state by year’s end.
Apple opening three new stores in March

Apple will be busy on March 25. The company will open three new stores on that day, including a flagship at Brickell City Center, a new mixed-use development in downtown Miami. It will be Apple’s fifth location in the Miami area. The new Miami store will have 13-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, and a forum space with an oversized video display, according to TechCrunch.
Visa lets customers pay — with sunglasses

The payment company hopes its newest wearables concept will have a bright future. Visa unveiled a prototype for payment-enabled sunglasses on Monday, March 13, simultaneously at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, and the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro surf competitions in Gold Coast, Australia, according to CNBC.
Consumers cautious in February

The delay of tax refunds helped keep consumer spending in check on February. Retail sales in February inched up 0.2% seasonally adjusted over January, according to the National Retail Federation. (The NRF numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.) The industry’s performance in February was mixed. Electronics and appliance stores took the biggest hit, with sales falling 2.8% over the previous month.
Shoptalk partners on new RILA initiative

Shoptalk has announced a partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association focused on RILA’s newly launched (R)Tech Center for Innovation. Through the partnership, Shoptalk will support the (R)Tech Center for Innovation as a member of the (R)Tech Innovators Network.
Century-old value department store calls it quits

Gordmans Stores is the latest chain to file for bankruptcy. The 100-year-old chain announced on Monday, March 13, that it filed Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nebraska.