Big Lots Stores, Inc.

Tarrytown, N.Y. -- DLC Management Corp., which owns Stone Mountain Square in Stone Mountain, Ga., said Friday that Big Lots has opened a 26,355-sq.-ft. store at the shopping center.

Big Lots co-anchors the center with Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Dot’s and Anna’s Linens.
 

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots Inc. posted a lower-than-expected adjusted profit for the first quarter and cuts its full-year earnings outlook.

Big Lots' first-quarter earnings fell 22% to $40.7 million, from $52.5 million a year ago. Sales increased 5.4% to $1.29 billion. Same-store sales edged down 0.8%.

Net profit margin declined to 3.1% from 4.3% a year ago.
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots is recognizing Armed Forces Day by offering a special discount for armed forces personnel and their families. On Saturday, May 19, all active, reserve, and retired service members will receive a 10% discount on their qualifying in-store purchases by presenting military identification. The discount can also be applied to sale and clearance items.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots has lowered its comparable-store guidance for its first quarter, and now expects them to be slightly negative compared with its prior guidance issued on March 2. The company's prior guidance estimated first-quarter comps would be up 2% to 4%.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities announced that Sally Beauty Supply will open a 1,354-sq.-ft. location at Plantation Point Shopping Center, located in Raleigh, N.C.

Sally Beauty Supply will be located between Rapid Refill and Dollar Tree at Plantation Point Shopping Center. The store is slated to open in spring 2012.

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate Inc. announced the following lease transactions were completed for several retail tenants:

A lease extension was signed with Tidewater Finance Co. for 25,516 sq. ft. of retail space in the DRE-leased and –managed Tidewater Plaza in Virginia Beach.

Louisville, Colo. -- Envysion, a leading managed video as a service (MVaaS) provider, announced that Big Lots has selected Envysion as a video service provider and has completed deployment of the Envysion Insight solution to approximately 1,200 of its retail stores.

Big Lots will utilize the Envysion Insight solution to improve loss prevention, operations and training efforts.

While there still is not enough new shopping center construction to warrant a “Fastest-Growing Developers” ranking system — as Chain Store Age provided for 20 consecutive years, from 1989 to 2008 — progress continues to be made.

From Target Corp. and Big Lots to J. Crew and Express, the list of U.S. retailers expanding into Canada or scouting locations north of the border seems to grow longer every day. With its growing population, enthusiasm for U.S. brands, relatively underserved market and stable, resilient economy, Canada has become a land of opportunity— and a potentially important profit center — for American retailers. In fact, more U.S.

There’s no doubt that Canada is very much on the minds of U.S. retailers these days. As our cover story points out, Canada is attractive for a number of reasons, from its growing population to its resilient economy. But there is plenty of expansion going on here at home too. The extent of the activity is detailed in the “Spring 2012 Retailer and Restaurant Expansion Guide” from ChainLinks Retail Advisors. The comprehensive report, which details the current expansion plans for more than 2,500 U.S.