Restaurant

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Target will soft open 21 locations across Southwestern Ontario, including 17 locations on March 19 and four locations on March 28.  The soft openings follow the launch of three pilot stores and will allow Target to continue to engage in volume testing ahead of grand opening in early April. The 21 new locations are in addition to pilot stores in Guelph, Milton and Fergus, and will complete the 24 stores scheduled to open in March. Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club has announced the third installment of The Sam's Club National BBQ Tour, the largest continuous barbecue competition in the United States, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). As the official supplier of KCBS, Sam's Club is the 'choice' destination for the highest quality meats and ingredients for backyard grillers, restaurateurs and more than 750 professional teams who will compete in the 2013 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour.

Minneapolis -- A Friday report by Bloomberg said that coffee purveyor Caribou Coffee has lost interest in opening shops inside J.C. Penney Co. stores.

The revelation comes just six months after Penney CEO Ron Johnson announced Caribou Coffee as a potential partner.

Caribou CEO Mike Tattersfield said in a Friday emailed statement that the company “does not have plans to move forward with a partnership at this time.” Tattersfield has not elaborated on the reasons for the change of heart.

In open-air, context often trumps content

Expect no prophesying about the death of enclosed malls. The format is alive and well, and there are countless examples of thriving under-roof shopping centers around the country.

Still, there is no question that the open-air format has stolen mall thunder.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -- Walt Disney World Resort announced the multi-year transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, which will feature an eclectic and contemporary mix of stores, dining options and entertainment experiences  from Disney and other noteworthy brands.

NEW YORK — Macy's has added chef, restaurateur, author and television star Stephanie Izard to its Culinary Council, an exclusive team of the country's finest chefs who serve to inspire the way Macy's customers shop, cook and eat at home. A James Beard Award nominee, Food & Wine "Best New Chef" and winner of Bravo's "Top Chef" (Season Four), Izard will serve as an ambassador for Macy's Home department alongside fellow Macy's Culinary Council chefs including Rick Bayless, Cat Cora, Nancy Silverton, Ming Tsai and Wolfgang Puck. 

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Terranova Corp. announced that three new tenants will open at Shops at Marlins Park, a retail area at the entrance of the new Marlins Park in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

Café Rubio Sports Bar & Restaurant, a Caribbean restaurant, has signed a 10-year, 3,200-sq.-ft. lease, with plans to open in mid-summer 2013. Subway has signed a 10-year lease for a 1,400-sq.-ft. restaurant also opening summer 2013.

Cigar shop 100 Fires will open a 625-sq.-ft. store in winter 2014.

Waban, Mass. -- Chick-fil-A, Dunkin' Donuts, Sonic Drive-In, and Little Caesar's earned the top spots in the fast food sector of the 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings. At the other end of the spectrum, KFC and McDonalds were the lowest-rated fast food restaurants. The fast food industry earned the second highest average rating out of 19 industries, falling only behind the grocery sector.