Displays & Signs

Panama City -- Starbucks Coffee Company has entered its 15th Latin America market.

The coffee giant — together with Premium Restaurants of America, its long-term strategic licensing partner in Central America — has opened its first store in Panama, making it Starbucks 15th market in Latin America and 67th worldwide.

A complete revamp has put a new focus on freshness and customer engagement at Strack & Van Til.

Focusing on whole organics, natural foods, and gluten-free products, the 56,458-sq.-ft store is set up to offer the value of a farmers market in the environment of a large space. Customers can even have their fresh purchased seafood grilled for them on-site.

Toano, Va. – Legal and regulatory costs, as well as costs related to payroll, severance and commissions, contributed to a surprise net loss during the second quarter of fiscal 2015 at Lumber Liquidators. The struggling retailer also informed financial regulators that it may face legal action stemming from the sale of Chinese hardwood flooring that allegedly contained excessive levels of formaldehyde.

New York -- Nike has given its Seattle flagship a makeover that includes technology to help customers select running shoes that are the perfect match for their feet and gait.  

Located on Sixth Avenue and Pike Street, the store incorporates unique design elements, including a custom neon sculpture celebrating sport icons and a number of the city's cultural symbols. An art installation signed by Seattle Seahawks players honors Seattle's sports fans.

Fast-growing Kriser's Natural Pet store is expanding in the Chicago area as the retailer looks to leverage what has become a $58 billion industry.

Kriser's is bringing the natural pet movement to the west suburbs of Chicago with a grand opening in Naperville on Aug. 15-16, at 8 W. Gartner Rd., in the Naperville Plaza, across from Trader Joe's. A second grand opening will take place in Northbrook on Aug. 29-30, at the new North Shore 770 mixed-use complex, at 780 Skokie Blvd. alongside the new Mariano's.

New York -- Uniqlo is coming to Boston.

The Japanese fast-fashion retailer will open its first permanent store in the city, a two-level, 12,000-sq.-ft. flagship in Faneuil Hall Marketplace in October.

In a nod to its surroundings, the store will feature heavy earth tones, wood, and brick with the original walls of the structure exposed. Open ceilings will highlight the building’s original wood trusses.

Chicago -- Some shopping centers are getting dog friendly.

In response to consumer demand for dog-friendly retail centers, nearly 30 JLL-managed properties are now encouraging shoppers to bring their canine companions to the mall for themed events from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Wednesday in August.

The newly launched Dog Days program will test the markets’ receptiveness to a dog-friendly shopping experience with four themed nights at participating centers:

“Now Trending” is a new exclusive online series to chainstoreage.com, featuring trending topics that impact the retail real estate landscape.

In recent years, a very old practice has gotten some new attention: design is once again ascendant in the world of commercial development.

While design never went away, of course, the degree to which great design is being prioritized, cultivated and integrated into the development of memorable spaces and places is noteworthy.

Toys"R"Us is headed to a galaxy far, far away with its next promotion.

Cincinnati – A redesign has upped the customer experience and increased sales at casual-dining chain Pollo Tropical.

The 120-plus-unit, Caribbean-themed casual-dining chain, part of Fiesta Restaurant Group, recently underwent a store redesign as part of a national growth strategy and repositioning, with the efforts led by FRCH Design Worldwide.