Events

Report: Troubled American Dream center finally taking shape
After a false start and years of delays, American Dream Meadowlands, the sprawling retail/ entertainment mega center planned for East Rutherford, New Jersey, is finally taking shape under the reins of new owners Triple Five Corp.
More offline moves from Warby Parker
It’s been a busy fall for hip eyewear marketer Warby Parker.

The company opened its first permanent location in Washington, D.C., in the Georgetown section.

The 1,230-sq.-ft. store features Warby Parker’s signature classic library design, with custom brass library lamps, suspended globe lighting, chevron wood flooring, walnut shelving, and banquette seating for reading and relaxing.

Newegg steps up its game for holidays

Newegg is looking to be the destination this holiday season for gamers with a new promotion designed to appeal to tech enthusiasts.
Omnichannel comes of age with new index

The National Retail Federation and e-digital consultancy FitforCommerce have launched a first-of-its-kind Omnichannel Retail Index to help retailers benchmark against industry best practices.
Rite Aid contest focused on customer engagement

Rite Aid on Wednesday brought back its nationwide annual Vote for Your Favorite Pharmacy Team Member Contest to celebrate American Pharmacist Month. Through the contest, Rite Aid customers have a chance to win $2,500 in Rite Aid gift cards by nominating a favorite member of their Rite Aid pharmacy team.
Petco Foundation to grant $500,000 in holiday wishes

Petco is looking to drive increased digital engagement with a new holiday pet adoption campaign.

The Petco Foundation has launched its third annual Holiday Wishes campaign, which awards grants to animal welfare organizations across the country that are busy at work ensuring the pets in their communities have homes for the holidays.
POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Size: Nine city blocks, 600,000 sq. ft.

Owner: The Cordish Companies

Key Tenants: Jos. A. Bank, Zafar Salon, Spa & Boutique, Envolve Boutique, The Garment District KC, Cosentino’s Downtown Market, Yard House, Alamo Drafthouse, Howl at the Moon and more
SPECS Profile

The first in a series of interviews with retail executives who attend SPECS, Chain Store Age’s annual store planning conference.
Sports Authority to fund sports for the disabled

Sports Authority is putting its philanthropic focus on helping disabled children and adults enjoy more therapeutic recreation, competition and adaptive sports.

The retailer announced Wednesday that it will collect point-of-sale donations at Sports Authority locations nationwide to support the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) throughout the month of October.
CSA’s X/SPECS announces digital innovation theme

Chain Store Age’s 13-year-old Executive SPECS event has been rebranded X/SPECS to underscore a new focus on innovation and in-store technologies.

X/SPECS 2015, to be held Oct. 27-29 in Scottsdale, Arizona, will showcase the evolution of physical stores and the role that technology plays in transforming the in-store customer experience through a series of exciting presentations that will include:
Bring your dog to work day at Pet Supplies Plus
Wawa ready for the Pope in Philadelphia; touts new design

Wawa managed to beat the clock in Philadelphia, opening a flagship location just in time for the Pope’s visit.

The convenience store operator opened the 4,000-sq.-ft. store nearly two months ahead of schedule, and in time for the crowds in town to see Pope Francis.

The new Wawa features an entirely new store design, colors, graphics and other one-of-a-kind features. It was designed in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum, Dayton, Ohio, and Cuhaci and Peterson, locally based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.