Events

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGresearch found that spending on food, gifts and apparel is expected to increase this Easter.

According to NRF’s 2011 Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, the average consumer is expected to spend $131.04 on everything from candy to clothes -- up from last year’s $118.60, but still not quite meeting pre-recession spending levels.

Total spending on Easter-related merchandise is expected to reach $14.6 billion.

Richardson, Texas -- Wingstop has announced plans to aggressively expand its presence in the Atlanta area. The fast-growing national chicken wing chain plans to add 20 additional locations in Atlanta over the next several years.

The expansion effort begins with an Atlanta open house April 20-21 where franchise candidates will have an opportunity to learn about Wingstop's plans and meet one-on-one with company executives.

Wingstop has 480 locations throughout the United States and Mexico.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Sam's Club announced that it is helping members and non-members prepare for spring celebrations by inviting them to a national "Spring Taste of Sam's Club" sampling event from April 15 to 17.

This complimentary tasting weekend will showcase gourmet finds and crowd favorites at locations nationwide from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sam's Club reported.

Salem, Ore. -- Anthropologie and the Cork Forest Conservation Alliance (CFCA) announced a joint initiative in all 153 Anthropologie stores in the United States and United Kingdom to increase awareness and promote the preservation of Mediterranean cork forests, one of the planet’s most important ecosystems.

Coral Springs, Fla. -- Sephora at J.C. Penney will open a 1,500-sq.-ft. location at Coral Square Mall, in Coral Springs, in mid-April. Francesca’s Collections is also slated to open in mid-April.

Coral Square Mall, owned by Simon Property Group, features anchor stores Macy’s/Ladies Apparel, Macy’s/Men's, Children & Home Store, J.C. Penney and Sears, as well as more than 120 specialty stores and eateries.

The art and science of researching how shoppers decide is at a crossroad.  The  shopper insights discipline originally developed when retailers began saying to CPG manufacturers that they have a thorough understanding of behavioral data and its findings, but lack a genuine grasp of how their customers and non-customers think and the “why” that drives that behavior.

Dallas -- The Retail Connection, L.P., Lincoln Property Company Commercial and the Fidelity Real Estate Group announced Friday that they have acquired Village on the Parkway, a 380,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center located in the Addison area of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.

The center was sold by J.E. Robert Co. after the default by its previous owner.

Houston -- Los Angeles-based Sundance Cinemas, Baltimore-based The Cordish Cos. and the City of Houston announced that a lease has been signed for the former Angelika center space at Bayou Place in the theatre district of Downtown Houston.

Sundance said it expects the extensive refurbishment work to begin immediately on the eight-screen complex with the target of a Nov. 1 opening.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that it earned one MAXI Gold and four MAXI Silver awards for shopping center marketing and management programs at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Fusion Conference in Hollywood, Calif.

In the Sales Promotions and Events category, a MAXI Gold was awarded to the 25 on the 25th event at Deer Park Town Center in Chicago. The center developed a wine-tasting promotion to showcase a local merchant and encourage shoppers to explore the center.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has partnered with the Kellogg Company to become a primary sponsor on the number 10 Indy car driven by Dario Franchitti, winner of last week’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and a three-time Izod IndyCar Series champ.

Franchitti will pilot the number 10 Kellogg’s Honda Dallara for TCGR in round four of the Izod IndyCar Series in Brazil at the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on May 1 and in round 14 at the Baltimore Grand Prix on Sept. 4.