Buckle

Covington, La. - Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. are announcing 12 new tenants coming to Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, Louisiana. Anchored by a 128,000-sq.-ft. Dillard's, the second phase of this development will include approximately 285,000-sq.-ft. of additional retail space, including previously announced tenants Red Robin, Zales, Francesca’s and Aveda.  

Construction is moving along as scheduled with a planned opening of Phase II in October 2015.

New York -- Specialty retailer L Brands continued its winning ways in March, reporting a 9% increase in same-store sales, higher than expectations. Total sales increased 10% to $981.2 million, from $923.7 million in the year ago period.

The Cato Corp. also turned in a winning performance, with a 12% surge in March same-store sales. For the nine weeks ended April 4, sales totaled $197.5 million, up 5% from $188.98 million a year earlier.

New York -- After five consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, teen retailer the Buckle may be coming out of its slump.

The Nebraska-based company reported net sales of $353.5 million, 4.3% higher than the year-ago quarter. Same store sales grew 1.1%. Net income rose by about 1.3% to $60.1 million, producing earnings of $1.25 per share, ahead of analysts’ estimates.

After five consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, teen retailer the Buckle may be coming out of its slump.

The Nebraska-based company reported net sales of $353.5 million, 4.3% higher than the year-ago quarter. Same store sales grew 1.1%. Net income rose by about 1.3% to $60.1 million, producing earnings of $1.25 per share, ahead of analysts’ estimates.

Lakewood, Colo. -- Colorado Mills will add IT’SUGAR this March and Buckle during this fall to its current mix of more than 200 stores. These new retailers follow openings by Calvin Klein, Michael Kors Outlet and Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen.

IT’SUGAR will be located in Neighborhood 4 near American Eagle Outfitters Factory Store. Buckle is also coming to Neighborhood 4.

A trio of top executives at The Buckle were elevated to new roles at the 463 store specialty retailer.

Kelli Molczyk, with the retailer since 1999, was named Vice President of Women’s Merchandising after most recently serving as Divisional Merchandise Manager. Prior to that she held a variety of roles with the company in which she was instrumental in design and marketing efforts.

Kearney, Neb. – The Buckle Inc. has made a number of reappointments to its executive staff. Kelli D. Molczyk has been appointed to the position of VP of women’s merchandising, Diane L. Applegate has been appointed to the position of VP of supply chain and merchandising operations, and Thomas B. Heacock has been appointed to the position of VP of finance, treasurer, and corporate controller and has been appointed as a member of the company’s executive committee.   

Plenty of retailers talk about returning cash to shareholders, but none does so as aggressively as The Buckle which just announced a whopper of a special dividend.

The Kearney, Neb.-based operator of 463 stores said it would pay a $2.77 special dividend in addition to its regular quarterly dividend of 23 cents on Jan. 27 to shareholders of record on Jan. 15. It is the seventh consecutive year the debt-free specialty retailer of young men’s and women’s apparel has paid a special dividend on top of its quarterly payout.

New York -- Apparel retailers reported modest sales growth for the month of September, fueled by back-to-school spending early in the month.

Kearney, Neb. -- Buckle Inc. reported a profit of $24.5 million in the second quarter, missing Wall Street estimates.

Quarterly revenue, however, beat analysts’ projections, as the teen apparel retailer posted revenue of $235.7 million in the period. Wall Street expected $234.2 million.