Hospitality

Chicago Sports Depot, a one-stop shopping destination for all things White Sox as well as other Chicago sports teams, offers consumers the ultimate in sports merchandising. The 15,000-sq.-ft. store was developed through a close collaboration between Delaware North Companies and the Chicago White Sox, with RGLA Solutions, Schiller Park, Ill., serving as the design architect.

Chain Store Age’s 48th annual SPECS Conference will be held March 4-7, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla. The industry’s premier retail store development and facilities event, SPECS combines a targeted and comprehensive educational program with a dynamic exhibit floor.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.

Join the SPECS group on Linkedin.

Denver -- Chipotle Mexican Grill expects to open 155–165 new Chipotle locations in 2012.

"While this is more restaurants than we've ever opened in a single year, we are confident," said co-CEO Montgomery Moran in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Moran cited the "quality of what's in the real estate pipeline."

 

New York City -- Kohl’s Department Stores and Walmart rank among the nation’s top purchasers of power according to the EPA’s most recent Green Power Partnership report. Kohl’s placed second in the ranking, while Walmart came in at third, followed by Whole Foods Market. Intel Corp. maintained its long-held top spot. Other retailers in the top 10 included Starbucks (No. 7) and Staples (No.9).

Redmond, Wash. -- PlayNetwork on Wednesday announced a partnership with restaurant and entertainment chain Dick's Last Resort, to provide original video, social engagement and custom music programs.

PlayNetwork said it is producing "Dick's TV," which features a lineup of original programming and product promotions.

Baltimore -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that it has leased space at Festival at Woodholme, located in Baltimore, to Corner Bakery Cafe. 

The fast-casual restaurant leased 3,513 sq. ft. of space and is slated to open in summer 2012. The cafe is the newest addition to an array of new retailers, including Ann Taylor Loft, Francesca’s Collection, Wine Loft and Couture Moda, that recently joined Festival at Woodholme.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Corp. has entered into a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages Limited that will result in the opening of the first-ever Starbucks locations in India. The 50/50 joint venture, called TATA Starbucks Limited, will own and operate Starbucks cafés, which will be branded as Starbucks Coffee “A Tata Alliance.” (Tata Global Beverages is the world’s second largest tea company and Asia’s largest coffee plantation company.)

New York City -- A special Leadership Workshop on negotiating techniques will kick off Chain Store Age’s 48th annual SPECS (store planning, equipment, construction and facilities seminars) Conference. The industry’s leading retail store development event, SPECS will be held March 4 - 7, 2012, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.