Events

Ping pong club rounds out leasing at Philadelphia center
Spin, an entertainment concept that had its genesis in “Naked Ping Pong” parties in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood, has taken the ground floor space to close out leasing at a new retail venue in Philadelphia. The glass-fronted, 55,000-sq.-ft. center in Rittenhouse Square, owned by an affiliate of Midwood Investment & Development, is co-anchored by The Cheesecake Factory and Verizon. Also inhabiting the three-story building is &Pizza and WeWork, a collaborative work space.
Report: Big Lots working on 'fun' new store design
Big Lots is looking to attract shoppers with more than deep discounts. The retailer is working with Big Red Rooster, Columbus, Ohio, and Alloy, Westerville, Ohio, to develop a store of the future, according to a report in The Columbus Dispatch.

Amazon extends ‘digital’ holiday shopping season a bit further

While most retailers have already bid adieu to the 2016 holiday shopping season, Amazon has one more trick up its sleeve.
Happy New Year from CSA

Chain Store Age offices will be closed December 30 through January 2. We will resume publishing on Tuesday, January 3. Have a happy, healthy new year!
In San Antonio, adaptive re-use continues brewing

Early in the 20th Century, the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio was the largest in Texas, and it continued to be a renowned site in the city until brewing operations were shut down in the 1980s. It remained vacant until Rio Perla purchased it in 2001 and set about transforming it into the Pearl Brewery/Full Goods Warehouse, a 26-acre mix of residences, retail, offices, and gathering places.
Happy Holidays from CSA

Chain Store Age will be closed Dec. 23 and Dec. 26, and will publish again on Monday, Dec. 27. We wish you and your families best wishes for a happy, healthy and joyous holiday.
Report: The first retail bankruptcy of 2017 could be…

Limited Stores LLC is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection within weeks, Bloomberg reported, and will most likely liquidate its business.
The Container Store helps travelers wrap up the holidays

The Container Store and Southwest Airlines are teaming up to surprise harried holiday travelers passing through airports across the nation. Starting Thursday, Dec. 22, the partners are easing holiday stress for travelers by offering complimentary gift wrapping. The service is available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the following 10 airports: • Chicago (Midway) International Airport • Dallas (Love Field) • Denver International Airport
ICSC: Holiday procrastination means increased Christmas Eve shopping

Christmas Eve may only be a mere three days away, however 20% of adults plan to shop for holiday gifts or holiday-related items that day. That’s according to “The 2016 ICSC Super Saturday study,” which was conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) from December 8-11, 2016. The survey comprises responses from 1,025 adults of 18 years of age and older.
American Apparel gets nod to shutter nine stores

American Apparel’s financial saga is winding down.
Study: Luxury brands excel in holiday shipping

Luxury brands seems to be going the extra mile this holiday season. This is according to “2016 Holiday Shipping,” a report from Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy, that analyzed orders with 84 retailers across a broad range of categories on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2016. The study analyzed online orders that were shipped to consumers, as well as those collected in-store, to measure shipping speed, accuracy and cost.
Technical problem could prove costly to Amazon

Did Amazon’s website had a technical glitch on one of the biggest shoppings day of the year? According to various reports, Amazon’s site had a glitch on “Super Saturday” that temporarily prevented customers from making purchases.