Restaurant

Photo: Jack Ma and Howard Schultz, China Partner Family Forum

Williams-Sonoma knows how to connect with its core customers and has crafted life-altering promotion that does just that to commemorate its 60th anniversary.

From food trucks to high-end restaurants and everything in between, dining has never been more essential to the shopping center experience.

“E-commerce has made it more important for retail centers to enhance the experience,” said Terry Montesi, CEO, Trademark Property Co. And food works great with retail.”

Jordan’s Furniture believes in giving people a reason to visit its stores — a reason that extends beyond merchandise. And its newest location is no exception to the rule.

The 192,500-sq.-ft. space combines retail with entertainment, and devotes 20,000 sq. ft. to such attractions as an elaborate indoor rope course, a water show with light and sound effects, a pizzeria and ice cream counter.

Irvine, Calif. -- Irvine Company announced a major $150 million reinvestment in Irvine Spectrum Center located in Irvine, California, in the heart of Irvine Spectrum, a mixed-use community that provides a balanced district of retail, office, and living space.

With 2016 upon us, many employers find themselves nervously awaiting what election-year politics might bring to their doorsteps. Retailers and restaurant operators, more than ever, have been thrust front and center into the political landscape, with labor issues at the top of candidate’s agendas as well as the subject of numerous ballot issues at the state and local level. As a result, the business models and labor practices of entry-level employers are being evaluated by the public in much the same way the candidates are.

Chain Store Age’s annual SPECS conference is the must-attend event for retail and restaurant executives involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of stores. This year’s show — to be held March 13-15, 2016, at the Hilton Anatole, Dallas — is shaping up as one of the best ever, with presentations by Target, Under Armour and The Container Store to name but a few.

Cousins Subs, a regional sub sandwich retailer with more than 100 locations in Wisconsin and Arizona, knows that a bigger sandwich isn’t better unless it has the right ingredients.

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Cousins is taking the same approach to corporate growth that it takes to increasing the size of its sandwiches. Cousins is partnering with customer analytics platform provider Buxton to develop site selection strategies based on core customer insights. Buxton will also identify new real estate growth opportunities for Cousins Subs in the Midwest.