Events

Leslie’s Poolmart Inc. plans to make a splash in select cities this month as it opens 15 new retail locations throughout the United States on April 9.

During the store grand openings between April 9 and April 13, customers will receive 20% off most everything in the store. Each store's grand opening will also be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and other events.

Kroger is moving ahead with its strategic plan for 2015 by closing and rebranding some of its Harris Teeter stores in Tennessee, according to the Nashville Tennessean.

The four Harris Teeter stores owned and operated by the Kroger Co. in the Nashville, Tenn., area will be closing on or before June 15, the newspaper reports. Three of the stores will re-open, but under the Kroger banner. This is the first time the Kroger Co. has switched banners on a Harris Teeter store.

Chicago -- West Marine will celebrate the grand opening of its Chicago flagship on Thursday, April 23, and continuing through Sunday, April 26.

At 20,000 sq. ft., the Halsted Street location will be the largest West Marine store in the Midwest. The new store will include such features as a state-of-the-art marine electronics display with over 100 units that shoppers can touch and test, and a dedicated "Paddle World" featuring a huge selection of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, plus a broad range of paddling accessories.

The largest retailer of party supplies in the United States, Party City, has filed paperwork for an initial public offering of its shares.

The company, which sells party supplies, decorations and costumes, said it expects the offering of 21.9 million shares to be priced at between $15 and $17 per share.

Party City Holdco Inc. is expected to be valued at nearly $2 billion in its initial public offering, the first by a U.S. retailer this year.

Lands' End has added a digital component to its sponsorship of the White House Easter Egg Roll this year.

The retailer says this year's theme for the Easter Egg Roll is "#GimmeFive," which encourages Americans across the country to share five things on social media they are doing to eat better, be more active, and lead a healthier life, and supports the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to help kids grow up healthy and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

New York -- The socially conscious outdoor brand Patagonia has embarked on a coast-to-coast tour to encourage people to repair their existing clothes rather than buy new ones. The message, which reflects the brand's socially conscious, environmental positioning, comes at a time of rising popularity for lower-priced fast-fashion items that sometimes are discarded after just a couple of wearings.

Kohl’s has donated more than $2.1 million over three years to Susan G. Komen Southeast Wisconsin as part of its efforts to support families in the retailer’s hometown.

Barnes & Noble is trying to attract more educators to its stores by hosting a week of appreciation days in April.

During its Spring Educator Appreciation Days from April 11-19, Barnes & Noble will offer pre-K-12 public, private and homeschool educators and administrators special discounts, events, sweepstakes and giveaways.

Special discount offerings include:

Minneapolis — Target Canada announced that it will complete its inventory liquidation efforts and close the last of its 133 Canadian retail stores to the public on April 12.

Ace Hardware has always been known for its “helpful hardware folks” motto, but now the company is taking its customer service knowledge global.