Home Depot

New York  -- For the third consecutive year,  Subway came out on top on BrandIndex’s annual ranking of the most buzzed about U.S. brands. The BrandIndex Buzz Rankings compares “Buzz” scores for nearly 1,100 brands across 41 categories  to reveal the brands with the most positive Buzz in 2012.  

Subway had a Buzz score of 40.3. Online giant  Amazon came in at number two for the second year in a row, with a score of  36.8  Lowe’s was fifth, with a score of 32.7.

Carson, Calif. -- A Friday report by the Associated Press said that the home of Los Angeles’ professional soccer team will likely be getting a new name.

The Home Depot Center, which also includes facilities for tennis, track and field, baseball, basketball and other sports, as well as serves as an official training site for U.S. Olympians, is nearing the end of the $70 million, 10-year naming rights period, and Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi told AP that the retailer does not plan to renew the deal.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced Tuesday that it has expanded its redevelopment program in Puerto Rico from $50 million to $90 million.

"Increased demand for quality retail space in this supply-constrained market has created unique value-add opportunities in many of our most productive assets," said Paul Freddo, senior EVP leasing and development, DDR. "By executing our strategic redevelopment plan, we are creating attractive opportunities for our key domestic tenants to establish or expand their presence on the island."

New York -- PayPay announced Monday that a total of 23 national retailers are now signed up to accept PayPal in their stores, making the payment solution accepted in more than 18,000 physical retail locations. PayPay also announced that Jamba Juice is testing an order-ahead feature that allows customers to place an order, select a time for pick-up, and pay in advance via the PayPal App – so when they arrive, they can save time and skip the line, grab their food and be on their way.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association has made changes to its top staff. Former Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us executive Garth Gasse has joined the association as director of retail operations, asset protection. Lisa LaBruno has been promoted to SVP for retail operations.

By Mike Wehrs

Office Depot on Friday announced that Kevin Peters had resigned from his role as president of the retailer’s North American division effective immediately.

Office Depot said Peters was leaving the company after five years to become CEO of an unidentified industrial distribution company.

Merriam, Kansas -- Shopping center owner and developer DDR Corp., based in Beachwood, Ohio, said Tuesday it will sell 22 acres of land to Ikea Property for the construction of Ikea’s first store in Kansas, located in the Kansas City bedroom community of Merriam, Kan.
 
Ikea confirmed Tuesday that the City Council of Merriam has unanimously approved plans for this project, following last month's approval from the city's Planning Commission.