Old Navy, LLC

New York -- J.Crew Group, a company struggling to regain its mojo, is jumping into the value category.

The company announced it will launch a new store banner, J.Crew Mercantile, selling lower-priced (“value-driven”) merchandise with classic J. Crew styles for women, men and children. The first J.Crew Mercantile store will open in late July, at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas. The retailer plans to open more Mercantile stores in strip centers and some malls, Bloomberg reported.

The online checkout space keeps getting more crowded.

New York -- The online checkout space keeps getting more crowded.

American Express on Thursday launched Amex Express Checkout, an alternative online payment method that its U.S. card members can use to check out and pay on partnering websites and apps. Unlike other online payments tools currently in the marketplace, Amex Express Checkout does not require a card member to create or manage a new account.

New York -- It’s official: Toys “R” Us is moving out of Times Square and Gap is moving in, but not just with one store.

Gap is planning to open two separate flagships, one for its namesake brand the other for Old Navy, in the space now occupied by Toys “R” Us.

“We're pleased to confirm our plans to construct our newest Gap and Old Navy flagship stores in one of one of the world's most well-known locations – Times Square,” the company said.

Retail consulting firm McMillanDoolittle has posted an interesting blog on Gap Inc.’s ongoing efforts to turnaround its troubled namesake brand. Here is the full posting:

New York -- Gap Inc. is eyeing the 110,000-sq.-ft. Toys “R” Us flagship at 1514 -1530 Broadway, according to The Real Deal.

Sources say the specialty apparel retailer may split the space between Old Navy and Gap stores.

The massive retail space comes with a hefty price tag: the ground floor alone goes for $2,500 per square foot per year in rent, while the top floor is going for $150 per square foot, and the basement for $350 per square foot.

Gap Inc. is eyeing the 110,000-sq.-ft.

New York – Same-store sales generally showed modest growth in May 2015, on the whole meeting Wall Street analyst expectations. The apparel vertical in particular generally outperformed analyst predictions, although Gap, Banana Republic and Zumiez all reported negative same-store sales growth.

Following is a review of May same-store sales by vertical:

Apparel
Banana Republic: – 5%
The Buckle: 2.4%
Gap: – 6%
L Brands: 5%
Old Navy: 6%
Stein Mart: 1.9%