Development/Redevelopment

In the December 2007 issue of Chain Store Age, I wrote about an historic structure on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, long-occupied by House of Bultman Funeral Home that was undergoing an extensive redevelopment to accommodate the first Borders bookstore in Orleans Parish.

NEW YORK — Express is taking its brand of specialty retail apparel north of the border this September with the opening of its first location in Canada at Fairview Mall in Toronto.  

New York City -- Sur La Table has been acquired by Investcorp, a global asset management firm. The Seattle-based retailer, which specializes in kitchen goods, operates 86 stores nationwide.

Investcorp acquired Sur La Table from the Behnke family and investment firm Freeman Spogli & Co., who will both remain as investors in the kitchen goods retailer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. No management changes are expected.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group has opened its eighth DestinationXL (DXL) location to date, in Westport, Conn. DXL is Casual Male’s new superstore format, housing Casual Male’s four existing apparel businesses: Casual Male XL, Rochester Big & Tall, Shoes XL and B&T Direct.

The company plans to open up to 12 DXL stores during the balance of 2011, another 20-30 stores during 2012 and approximately 100 stores over a four to five year period.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. reported Thursday that it narrowed its loss in the quarter ended Aug. 27 to $94.7 million, from $199.3 million in the year earlier period.

Revenue rose 1.8% in the quarter to $6.3 billion, and same-store sales – as previously reported – increased 2.2%.

The drugstore retailer has modified its outlook, now expecting smaller losses for fiscal 2012 than originally anticipated.

Columbia, S.C. -- Shopping center owner Edens & Avant said Wednesday that an expanded new Publix will open Sept. 2012 at Sunshine Square retail center in Boynton Beach, Fla.

The centerpiece of the multi-million dollar redevelopment, the new 54,000-sq.-ft. Publix will be more integrated into the overall center, one aspect of a larger plan to improve shopper circulation that also includes enhanced vehicular and pedestrian access.

The existing Publix store is scheduled to close Sept. 24.

New York City -- Express said Thursday that it has opened its first Canadian location, a 10,000-sq.-ft. store at Fairview Mall in Toronto.

The retailer said it plans to open a total six stores in Canada by the end of 2011, and an additional 50 stores across the country over the next five years.

In November, Express will have three locations opening in Calgary at Southcentre, Chinook Centre and Market Mall as well as an additional store in Toronto at Square One.

When Quincy, Mass.’s new downtown shopping district is officially unveiled, the City will host some of America’s premier retail destinations — thanks to a first-of-its kind joint venture between Street-Works Development and National Realty and Development Corp., based in Purchase, N.Y.

The partnership was announced on Sept. 21 by the City of Quincy, Street-Works and NRDC.

CHICAGO — Walgreens is looking to roll out solar installations at its Ohio-area stores, thanks to a new partnership with a Chicago-based solar developer.

The retailer said that it selected SoCore Energy to provide 90 solar installations for the Ohio-based stores. The partnership began earlier this month with the construction of 20 solar installations at Walgreens stores in Cincinnati. Walgreens and SoCore Energy said that the first 53 solar installations is slated to be completed by Nov. 11.

New York City -- Macy's is reducing the size of its store in downtown Pittsburgh from nine floors of retail space to six (plus a mezzanine).

The company has been moving some departments to lower floors since early this year. The store will remain open during the renovations.

"The store is being reconfigured for better flow among departments, making shopping easier and more convenient," the company said in a statement.