Events

Las Vegas -- Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino has begun planning efforts to convert space Harmon Avenue, a 60,000-sq.-ft. area on Miracle Mile Shops’ south end that draws in heavy foot traffic from Las Vegas Boulevard into a restaurant and entertainment destination.

Ticketfly, a San Francisco-based ticket distribution service founded in 2008, has hired former Amazon chief operating officer Steve Oliver to help develop the startup’s long-term strategy as it prepares to expand internationally, according to a Reuters report.

Oliver spent nine years at Amazon, leading its Canadian operations, the article stated.

Phoenix -- Leslie’s Poolmart announced plans to grand open three retail locations on May 9. The stores are located in: Los Banos, California; Utica, Michigan; and Jackson, Tennessee.

In total, Leslie's plans to open 45 new stores this year, between April and May. With these new stores, Leslie’s will bring its total store count to more than 850 stores nationwide.  

Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) president and CEO Pamela G. Bailey said that the association will honor retired Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke with the 2014 GMA Hall of Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor, at its Leadership Forum Aug. 23 at The Broadmoor.

Frito-Lay North America has announced the winners of its "Create to Celebrate" Black History Month art contest, which invited consumers to submit an original piece of art celebrating African American achievement in Black History.

To celebrate, Frito-Lay will donate $20,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The donation, which will help support the future educational needs of artists and students across the nation, was driven by thousands of consumer votes.

Miracle Mile Shops’ new general manager Jerry Irwin talks strategy

Jerry Irwin signed on as general manager of Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in September 2013. He oversees all center operations, including design, development, management, construction and strategic direction.

Miracle Mile Shops spans 475,000 sq. ft. and boasts 170 stores. Recently, CSA asked Irwin about his plans for the center.

How do you conceive of your role at Miracle Mile Shops?

Technology is no longer the sole province of “IT geeks,” or even marketers and finance executives — it is also now a focal point of such operational departments as store planning, energy management, construction management and real estate.

In recognition of the huge impact technology is having on store operations, SPECS 2014 held a series of hands-on tech boot camps, with the first one devoted to design, development and facilities, the second to operational technology, and the third to social media trends and tools.

When the International Council of Shopping Centers opens the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center on May 18 to shopping center attendees from around the globe, it will unveil a lineup of newly built and redeveloped properties ripe for deal-making.

On the following pages, Chain Store Age highlights five projects that will be on display at RECon 2014.

Hassalo on Eighth

Portland, Ore.

Developer: American Assets Trust