Events

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. has announced a partnership to open a store inside each of the six Disney properties in California and Florida.

The first will open this summer, at Disneyland California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. Starbucks will be located in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café on Buena Vista Street, which is designed to transport patrons to 1920s Los Angeles. The store’s location plays off the Spanish/Mexican architecture of the period, and Starbucks baristas will wear 1920s-inspired attire.

Burlington, N.J. -- Burlington Coat Factory will open a flagship in Manhattan this fall. It will be the off-price retailer’s sixth location in New York City. The 92,000-sq.-ft., three-level store will be in a building managed by Vornado Real Estate, on the south end of Union Square.

The Union Square flagship is part of a broader plan by Burlington to open more than 20 new stores in 2012.
 

For the third time in the past five months, Walmart chief merchandising and marketing officer Duncan Mac Naughton is representing Walmart at a major investor conference. Smart move considering expectations of further U.S. same-store sales acceleration has served as a catalyst for Walmart shares, which are trading near a 52-week high.

Walmart held another one of its sustainability milestone meetings this week and webcast the event live from the auditorium at its home office. By the time the hour-and-a-half event was over the senior executives who participated had delivered a clear and consistent message around the company’s wide-ranging sustainability efforts.

Sam’s Club next week is set to hold the first of three unique supplier fairs designed to improve sourcing from women and minority owned firms.

The event is scheduled for April 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is designed to provide education on the Sam’s Club merchandising strategy, engage potential suppliers, strengthen relationships with diverse suppliers and identify product offerings relevant to the members that Sam’s Club serves.

Bridgeport, W.Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Planet Fitness will open a new gym at the company’s Meadowbrook Mall, located in Bridgeport, W.Va.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. facility is slated to open in September, in a space currently occupied by High Point Furniture.

The Meadowbrook Mall Complex, at nearly one million sq. ft., is anchored by Elder-Beerman, J.C. Penney, Target, Sears and Marshalls.
 

New York City -- Charter Realty & Development announced it has leased 15,000 sq. ft. for a five-screen Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Manhattan.

The location, 2626 Broadway, is in the upper west side and is owned by Bialek and Associates of Manhattan. Alamo will be occupying the former Metro Theater and intends on renovating it back to its former glory. The deal represents Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s first entry into New York City and the company is looking for further growth opportunities in the market.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Grilling is the theme of Sam's Club's annual "Spring Taste of Sam's Club" event, and the retailer is inviting members and non-members to sample some unexpected grilling options at its free event taking place Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beth McGuire a senior group manager at Target was among a group of 25 “women to watch,” compiled by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as part of the publication’s annual Women in Business Awards. The business newspaper also recognized 25 female industry leaders. McGuire and the other honorees will be recognized at a May 23 luncheon and featured in a special edition of the publication dated May 25.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores’ efforts to reduce waste and boost recycling added $231 million to its bottom line last year, company CFO Charles Holley said at the chain’s 2012 Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting.

Other speakers at the event, which was web cast live, included Mike Duke, president and CEO, Walmart; Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart International; and Bill Simon, president and CEO, Walmart U.S.