White House Black Market (WHBM)

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Trademark Property Group announced that its La Palmera property in Corpus Christi, Texas, has five new stores planning to open by late spring.

Construction is underway on White House | Black Market (3,453 sq. ft.), Soma Intimates (2,313 sq. ft); Bebe (4,885 sq. ft.); Traffic Shoes (1,105 sq. ft.); and Papaya (6,350 sq. ft.).

The Children’s Place has opened a 3,467-sq.-ft new location by Champs, and construction is underway on a Payless ShoeSource location (3,360 sq. ft.), adjacent to the new Papaya.

Boston-based The Wilder Cos. has taken on a new leasing and management assignment – the open-air specialty shopping center The Shops at Valley Square, in Warrington, Pa.

Located in Bucks County, Pa., just north of Philadelphia, The Shops at Valley Square is part of a 140-acre mixed-use development that includes office, retail and residential.

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that White House | Black Market will open a new store at its The Village at Towne Centre property near Fredericksburg, Va.

The 4,000+-sq.-ft. store is slated to open spring 2012 across from Coldwater Creek.

Kansas City, Kan. – OTB Destination announced that the area’s first White House | Black Market Outlet boutique will open at Legends Outlets Kansas City in May 2012.

The women’s retailer will offer a collection designed specifically for the outlet boutique, while offering a select assortment of product from their full-price boutiques as well. The White House Black Market Outlet boutique will occupy an overall square footage of 2,955 next to Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation expressed its support for President Obama's proposal for business tax reform, and pledged to work with the White House and Congress to win passage of legislation that would significantly lower rates in order to help retailers and other businesses create jobs.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation expressed its support for President Obama's proposal for business tax reform, and pledged to work with the White House and Congress to win passage of legislation that would significantly lower rates in order to help retailers and other businesses create jobs.

Fort Meyers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS reported that its fourth quarter earnings rose a better-then-expected 21%, helped by a strong performance of its White House | Black Market brand.

For the quarter, the chain posted a profit of $25.1 million, up from $20.7 million a year earlier.

Sales rose 20% to $569.2 million. Same-store sales increased 8.7%. By division, the Chico's/Soma Intimates brands' comparable sales increased 5.5% and White House | Black Market same-store sales increased 15.4%.

Charleston, W.Va. -- Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises announced that found new upscale women’s retailers have joined the company’s Charleston Town Center property, located in Charleston, W.Va.

White House | Black Market, Coach, Sephora and Francesca’s Collections will open spring 2012. The center will undergo an expansive renovation, incorporating aesthetic updates to both the interior and exterior of the property.

A lineup of five new retailers will be opening at Westchester’s Ridge Hill in early spring, according to the New York City-area project’s developer Forest City Ratner Cos.

Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, White House | Black Market, The Limited and Vera Bradley will open around the same time as Lord & Taylor, slated to debut in mid-April.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has issued an open letter to President Obama urging him to call for action on initiatives that support a strong retail sector when he delivers his State of the Union address later this month. The letter was signed by Macy’s chairman, president and CEO Terry Lundgren, who chairs the NRF doard of directors, and NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.