News Briefs

J.Crew left its original space at Mall of America eight years ago during a time when the chain was reducing its store count, but now the nation’s largest mall can count them back in. 

The casual clothing chain has made a comeback with a 7,000-sq.-ft. store on the mall’s Level 1, next to neighbors Banana Republic, L.L.Bean and the Samsung Experience.

On August 1, the brand will celebrate its return with “The J.Crew Fair.” A press release from the chain promises that “customers will step into a bright, inviting space featuring white oak finishes, custom fixtures and layered lighting.”

J.Crew Passport members will receive an opening-day gifts at the fair that honor “Minnesota Summer and State Fair Traditions” and all visitors can partake in local treats and photo opportunities. 

Academy Sports + Outdoors is looking to deepen relationships between its customers and brand partners.

The sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer has launched Academy Retail Media (ARM) in an effort to create more relevant customer experiences and measurable growth opportunities for advertisers. The network enables brands to reach verified Academy customers across onsite, in-app, and off-site channels and connect media exposure to online and in-store sales. 

The launch comes as Academy continues to expand its store footprint, boost e-commerce, and enhance customer personalization capabilities. With more than 320 stores across 21 states and a growing base of 52 million verified customers, ARM gives brand partners a new way to translate Academy's customer relationships and geographic reach into purchase-based audience intelligence, omnichannel activation and closed-loop measurement, the retailer said.

[READ MORE: Exclusive Q&A: Academy Sports + Outdoors merchandising head on customer focus]

“ARM is a natural extension of how Academy is growing our business and deepening relationships with customers and brand partners," said Chad Fox, executive VP and chief customer officer. "Our stores, digital platforms, and customer insights give us a distinct view of how active families and sports and outdoor enthusiasts shop. By bringing those strengths together, we can help brands engage customers more meaningfully, demonstrate the business impact of their investment, and create a better, more personalized Academy experience."

Advertisers on ARM receive transparent, closed-loop measurement of same-SKU sales, broader brand halo and incremental lift, helping them optimize campaigns against outcomes such as return on advertising spend, customer acquisition, new product launches, reactivation and sales growth.

For Academy customers, ARM will support more relevant product discovery, brand experiences and offers throughout the shopping journey, the retailer said.

Two noted luxury brands have signed leases at Scottsdale Quarter, their first locations in the state of Arizona.

L’Agence, the Los Angeles-based brand known for blending Southern California style with a Parisian sensibility, has presences in New York, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Houston and Chicago, as well as in Paris and Seoul. 

The brand’s 2,408-sq.-ft. Scottsdale Quarter shop, which will be located in the project’s Quad, marks the brand's first stand-alone store in Arizona.

Also making a landing in Scottsdale Quarter is Hill House Home, a digitally-native brand known for its signature Nap Dress. Its 2,250-sq.-ft. boutique located on 73rd St. will be its first location in the Southwest.

Owned by FalconEye Ventures and managed by Vestar, Scottsdale Quarter holds more than 100 retail and restaurant brands and 600 luxury apartments.

The 755,000-sq.-ft. property is currently undergoing a phased redevelopment that will continue to add more shopping and dining tenants.

Pacsun brought its new denim collection and "Denim Starts Here" campaign to life with an in-store activation at its flagship in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.

The event was designed to transform the flagship into an interactive back-to-school experience, giving customers a hands-on way to engage with the campaign built around self-expression and individuality.  

It featured an array of hands-on moments for visitors, including a dedicated denim station where they could customize their own jeans with embroidery and stitching, turning each pair into a one-of-a-kind expression of personal style. An on-site coffee cart served complimentary specialty beverages.

The event also included a beauty station and branded photo opportunity courtesy of Ulta Beauty, marking the in-store debut of Pacsun’s new collaboration with the beauty giant. Shoppers could also try their luck at a claw machine for the chance to win beauty products.

"Denim has always been at the heart of who we are, and back-to-school is one of the biggest moments of the year for our community to make it their own," said Richard Cox, chief merchandising officer at Pacsun. "We wanted this day to be a true celebration of co-creation, bringing together partners we love to meet young people where they're already gathering. Activations like this give us the opportunity to bring that philosophy to life, creating authentic moments that deepen our connection with customers while celebrating their individuality."

The denim collection is now live in select Pacsun stores and online, giving shoppers everywhere the chance to find their own back-to-school style.

American Eagle Outfitters is expanding its distribution center footprint.

The apparel retailer will establish a new distribution center in Salisbury, N.C. (Rowan County) investing $41 million and creating more than 200 full-time jobs. The news was announced in a press release from RowanEDC. 

American Eagle will occupy a 472,890-sq.-ft. facility at Innovation Logistics Center in Salisbury. The center is expected to begin operations in early 2027.

The facility will provide the retailer with a new distribution hub for the Southeastern United States.

"North Carolina offers the workforce, infrastructure and strategic location needed to continue powering our brands and connecting us to customers," Jay Schottenstein, executive chairman and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, said in a release from North Carolina's Department of Commerce. "We're proud to have a presence in Rowan County and are excited about what this facility means for the long-term growth of our supply chain and distribution network."

A performance-based grant of $150,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will be awarded to AE Regional Distribution Co. to help the company locate in North Carolina. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. 

Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. AEO must create 70 jobs to receive One NC grant payments. All OneNC grants require matching participation from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

Kroger is launching a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to help customers shop.

The grocery giant’s new AI Shopping Assistant is now available across the Kroger family of companies’ websites and apps. Customers can use the new Kroger AI Shopping Assistant to plan meals for the week, find new recipes and build a cart around budget and dietary needs.

Within the tool, users can also snap a photo of a written list or recipe card, or paste a URL, and the digital assistant will find the products and create a cart in seconds. The tool can also help users plan for any occasion with tailored product suggestions and shopping lists based on events.

"We continue to invest in digital tools that make shopping simpler, more intuitive and more convenient for our customers," said Yael Cosset, executive VP and chief digital officer at Kroger. "The AI Shopping Assistant is another example of how we're using technology and AI to help families plan, discover and shop more easily."

[READ MORE: Kroger Co. in $1.65 billion deal to acquire Giant Eagle]

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, The Kroger Co. operates approximately 2,800 stores under a variety of banners across the U.S., including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market and Mariano's.