Events

Salisbury, N.C. -- Food Lion announced that it has made significant investments in 169 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina and created 500 new jobs. Key markets include Greenville, N.C., Wilmington, N.C., Columbia, S.C., Charleston, S.C., and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

To celebrate the launch, Food Lion is holding grand re-opening festivities at the 169 stores, including providing the first 50 customers at each location with a bag of free groceries Nov. 13 through Nov. 16.

Chicago -- ShopperTrak predicts that Wednesday, Dec. 4, will be the best day for consumers to shop this holiday season with the least amount of store shopper traffic.

Issaquah, Wash. — Construction is nearing completion on Issaquah Highlands’ new shopping and entertainment district, Grand Ridge Plaza. The Regency Centers Corp. center, which broke ground in the summer of 2012, is in the midst of its busiest rollout stretch, which features the grand opening of a Safeway grocery store.

Games, giveaways, book signings and personalized recommendations will be offered as part of “Discovery Friday,” event Barnes & Noble has planned for November 22 to pre-empt the doorbuster madness that will occur the following week on Black Friday.

Target will open stores at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, an hour earlier than last year, and will keep them open until 11 p.m. Black Friday.

The company said it is making the change in response to competitive pressure and demand from shoppers.

Kathee Tesija, executive VP of merchandising at Target, told The Associated Press that she felt the 8 p.m. time was just right, based on the competitive landscape, and the sentiment among shoppers and its own store staff.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group announced that Judith Langley has joined dressbarn as executive VP and chief merchandising officer.

Langley brings to Dressbarn extensive experience as a senior merchant and in product development. Most recently, she was executive VP and chief merchandising officer with Charming Charlie’s, a jewelry and accessories chain.

Previously, she was senior VP of design and trend at Kohl’s, where she oversaw product direction for 15 brands.

H&M plans to hold a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the opening of a 42,000-sq.-ft. store in New York City’s Times Square at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. On hand to help light the H&M logo at the top of 4 Times Square will be global superstar Lady Gaga.

New York -- Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) will open a 42,000-sq.-ft. store in the heart of New York City’s Times Square on Nov. 14 at 12:01 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting and lighting of the H&M logo on the top of the building by global recording and fashion superstar, Lady Gaga.