North Face

San Francisco -- Grosvenor Americas said that its mixed-use building at 180 Post Street just off San Francisco’s Union Square will soon be home to Icebreaker, which will sell its exclusive line of merino wool adventure apparel in a new 1,500-sq.-ft. store.

The new store is slated to open on Nov. 21, and by March 2012 the New Zealand- based retailer will complete the store’s conversion to a “TouchLab” that enables customers to touch raw merino fibers.

New York City -- Apparel giant VF Corp., whose brands include Wrangler, The North Face, and Nautica, said it has agreed to buy Timberland Co. for approximately $2 billion. The deal, expected to close in the third quarter, values Timberland at $43 a share, a 43% premium to Friday's closing price of $29.99 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Reflecting the brand tagline, “Never Stop Exploring,” the new global prototype of The North Face is meant to inspire customers to get outside and experience the great outdoors. Designed by Gensler, the store has a sleek, streamlined modern look and is composed of natural elements and textures. Trail markers, built of wood, stone and metal, distinguish the retailer’s core categories: outdoor, action sports and performance.