News Briefs

Casey’s General Stores has made its second acquisition of 2026.

The Iowa-based convenience giant has acquired Oklahoma-based ASAP Energy Inc.’s 20-store ASAP General Stores convenience business, according to Chain Store Age’s sister publication Convenience Store News. The transaction also includes ASAP Energy's wholesale and commercial fuels and lubricants businesses, as well as other related assets.

ASAP Energy owners Rick and Sheila Koch announced the agreement, citing opportunities for their employees and Casey's presence in smaller communities as factors in the decision to sell to the business.

"We want more for our employees – more opportunities for professional growth, more resources and more possibilities for long-term success. We believe Casey's can provide those opportunities," the Kochs said in a Facebook post. "Casey's is a company where people can build long, rewarding careers, and we see this as an incredible opportunity for our team members to grow alongside a thriving brand."

In August, Casey’s agreed to acquire Pak-A-Sak, a family-owned convenience chain with 24 locations in the Texas panhandle.

[READ MORE: Casey's acquires Texas convenience chain]

A month earlier, the company announced a new strategic plan centered around three priorities: adding "at least" 400 new stores over the period, expanding its food and beverage offerings, and enhancing its operational efficiency by implementing new technology. Since introducing its last strategic plan in 2023, Casey's has opened more than 500 new stores and joined the S&P 500.

Founded in 1968, Casey’s is the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States. It operates more than 2,900 stores across 19 states.

The Candlewood Shops in Lakewood, Calif., east of Anaheim, has new owners for the first time since the development was built in the Sixties, according to Marcus & Millichap. 

The property--an out-parcel next to the Lakewood Center Mall—is a food and  beverage island whose tenants include Chipotle, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Outback Steakhouse.

“Its position as an outparcel to Lakewood Center, combined with established national tenants and the continued investment and development occurring in the surrounding area, made this a unique acquisition opportunity,” said Bill Rose, senior managing director investments at Marcus & Millichap.

Lakewood Center is anchored by Costco, Target, The Home Depot, Albertsons, Burlington, Macy’s, JCPenney, Best Buy and 24 Hour Fitness. 

The surrounding area is also positioned for additional development, with more than 1,000 new housing units planned as part of the Lakewood Center mixed-use overlay.

At Home has evolved its Insider Perks loyalty offering based on customer feedback.

The value home decor retailer is launching a loyalty program called Design Rewards, which is a reboot of its previous loyalty initiative called Insider Perks. With Design Rewards, members earn points on every purchase in-store and online, obtain exclusive experiences and offers, and gain access to benefits tailored to how they shop and engage with At Home.

Building on Insider Perks, Design Rewards centers the member experience around four key areas:

• Value: Every purchase counts toward future savings. Members receive a $10 Design Reward for every 1,000 points, with base members earning four points per dollar and VIP members earning five points per dollar. At Home credit cardholders earn 50% more points.
• Recognition: Design Rewards is intended to help At Home better acknowledge members' relationships with it across stores and online, while rewarding deeper engagement with differentiated benefits and experiences for VIP members, At Home credit cardholders and participants in the Pro program for design industry professionals.
• Access: Members receive exclusive offers, sneak peeks, member-only shopping events and early access to select products before they are made broadly available.
• Personalization: The program includes tailored recommendations and rewards.

At Home conducted customer research while developing Design Rewards, asking shoppers to evaluate different combinations of program features and identify what mattered most to them. Customer input directly influenced key elements of the program, including the new $10 Design Reward structure and an increased emphasis on benefits other than savings.

Following pilots in select markets, At Home is developing an ongoing customer community and panel to gather input on Design Rewards and its broader shopping experience.

[READ MORE: At Home exits bankruptcy with fewer stores, less debt — and new owners]

Two fast-expanding off-price retailers have joined the roster of anchor tenants at Dadeland Station.

Burlington opened at the property in late August, followed by Marshalls in mid-September, together adding 62,000 square feet of new retail to the three-level, vertically-constructed Miami shopping center. The two retailers, which both have been growing their respective footprints nationwide, join Target, Best Buy, Michaels, PetSmart and more at Dadeland Station.

Located off of US 1 (South Dixie Highway), the property sees approximately 5,000 vehicle visits per day, according to Berkowitz Development Group.

“Dadeland Station is experiencing tremendous momentum and is a great example of the continued strength  and evolution of brick-and-mortar retail,” said Michael Berkowitz, Principal of Berkowitz Development Group, which opened the property in 1996. “The performance of our existing tenants, combined with the significant investment being made by Burlington and Marshalls, demonstrates the continued demand for well-positioned physical retail.”

[READ MORE: Burlington investing $370 million in headquarters move]

With the new additions, Dadeland Station has one remaining retail opportunity: an approximately 42,500-sq.-ft. anchor space. The shopping center spans 330,000 leasable square feet in total.

“We’re focused on attracting retailers that can perform at a very high level and continuing to strengthen Dadeland Station as one of Miami’s most successful retail destinations,” added Berkowitz.

A leading U.K. live entertainment venue is integrating ordering, payments, and operational data across its food and beverage touchpoints.

Located in Manchester, U.K., Co-op Live is a 23,500-capacity arena featuring over 120 nights a year of unique entertainment with food and beverage outlets including bars, concessions, premium lounges, and self-service kiosks. 

[READ MORE: Caesars Superdome deploys self-ordering kiosks in time for Super Bowl]

Seeking to process high volumes of food and beverage transactions while maintaining tight control over inventory and profitability, Co-op Live is leveraging the Oracle Simphony Cloud POS solution and NetSuite ERP platform.

“By bringing food and beverage operations and financial management together with Oracle Simphony and NetSuite, Co-op Live can improve efficiency, inventory management, and decision-making to further enhance the experience for fans,” said Kevin Kimber, senior VP and GM, U.K. and Ireland, Oracle.

This deployment helps Co-Op Live obtain timely insight into sales performance, product demand, and venue operations. By bringing together operational information with the financial management capabilities in NetSuite, Co-op Live can simplify financial reconciliation and improve budgeting and forecasting, giving finance and operations personnel a shared view of business performance. 

“Co-op Live was designed to be one of the world's most advanced live entertainment venues, and that requires best-in-class technology behind every aspect of the fan experience,” said Guy Dunstan, senior VP and GM, Co-op Live. “By connecting our venue and finance data, our teams have better visibility across the business, helping us make more informed decisions while delivering fast, efficient, and reliable service at every event.”

An upscale, grocery-anchored center located near the Pacific Ocean has changed hands.

Commercial real estate owner and operator Edens has acquired The Forum, a 263,000-sq.-ft., open-air center in Carlsbad, Calif., north of San Diego. The purchase brings the company's California portfolio to 12 properties totaling approximately 2.1 million square feet.

Edens acquired The Forum from a joint venture between Northwood Investors LLC and Nuveen Real Estate. Eastdil Secured represented the sellers in the transaction. The sale price was not disclosed.

Opened in 2004, The Forum is anchored by specialty grocer Jimbo's, and features a mix of tenants that includes Apple, Vuori, Lululemon, Sur La Table, Anthropologie, Warby Parker, The Henry and more.

According to recent U.S. Census data, the San Diego metropolitan area has a population of roughly 3.3 million residents, with a median household income of $109,000.

“The Forum is an irreplaceable, high-performing property in a market where we see enduring strength,” said Jami Passer, chief investment officer at Edens. “This acquisition is a significant step in our Southern California expansion and reflects a broader strategy of investing in places with strong community relevance and the potential to become more compelling over the long term.”

[READ MORE: Chicagoland lifestyle center acquired by Connecticut-based firm]

Founded in 1966, Edens’ portfolio includes 93 open-air retail and mixed-use destinations nationwide. Its other California properties include The Shops at La Jolla Village (La Jolla, Calif.), Long Beach Exchange (Long Beach, Calif.) and Strawberry Village (Marin Valley, Calif.).