Events

Seattle -- Cooking retailer Sur La Table said Monday it will open a flagship store in Hearst Tower, New York City, in late 2011.

The chain’s first NYC space opened in SoHo in 2005 and a second store in the Upper East Side opened in 2010.

The new store will include Sur La Table’s largest kitchen and cooking class program. Customers will be able to take cooking classes, as well as attend events with media partners and renowned chefs from around the world. Cooking classes are currently slated to start in early December.

New York City -- Chain Store Age is conducting a brief survey designed to take retailers' "new" media temperature. Together with shopping center owner Forest City Enterprises and research firm Alexander Babbage, Chain Store Age is surveying our retail readership to find out what retailers nationwide are doing in terms of social, mobile and other digital media initiatives.

New York City -- Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, cancelled a speech he was to give Friday at The Global Leadership Summit, an annual leadership summit organized by megachurch Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill., after an online petition condemned the congregation as anti-gay. The church denies the charges.

The annual event draws tens of thousands of viewers via satellite. Past speakers have included former GE's Jack Welch former president Bill Clinton.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands’ Payless ShoeSource announced that it will rebuild its tornado-demolished store in Joplin, Mo., with a new 3,100-sq.-ft. store at the same location.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Charlie Bowlus, CEO and founder of ECRM has died unexpectedly from complications following emergency surgery three weeks ago.

Asheville, N.C. -- Ingles Markets reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended June 25 rose 11% to $12.7 million, compared with $11.4 million in the year earlier period.

Revenue increased 6% to $911 million from $856.1 million. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, rose 2%.

Walmart’s policy of prohibiting employees from accepting the smallest of gratuities has been in place for a long time and for good reason. Veterans of the company will tell you that early on it was a key driver of success because there was a time when the retail industry was rife with merchants who tended to make buying decisions that were in their best interest as opposed to those of customers.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar said Thursday it has opened its 7,000th store -- on South Highland St. in Memphis, Ten.

The newest store, which opened on Wednesday, features a new design with green elements and easy-to-navigate layout.