Hospitality

Atlanta -- A report released Monday by First Data Corp., which tracks year-over-year same-merchant activations, redemptions and reloads of merchant-branded prepaid cards in the United States, including spending, gift, incentive and promotional cards, revealed that delayed post-holiday redemptions and incentives drove activations in first quarter 2011.

Hermosa Beach, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased restaurant space in Hermosa Beach, Calif., at Plaza Hermosa shopping center to The Counter. 

The burger restaurant has leased 2,837 sq. ft. and is slated to open for business in July.

The 94,939-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Vons, alongside national retailers such as CVS/pharmacy, Aaron Brothers, Jamba Juice and The UPS Store.

The nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains came together to share ideas, discuss opportunities and find new solutions at Chain Store Age’s 47th annual SPECS conference, in Grapevine, Texas. Reflecting a renewed sense of optimism in the industry, overall attendance was up significantly, among retailers as well as exhibitors. All segments of the industry were in attendance, from discounters and specialty stores to supermarkets and home-improvement outlets to casual-dining restaurants.

Dallas -- Davaco a provider of retail and restaurant services, announced that the company is partnering with their clients to execute safety audits across stores and restaurants, nationwide.

By Dwayne Shackelford, [email protected]

Proposed new lease accounting rule changes will have a significant impact on many retail and restaurant companies. The good news is that rent will no longer appear on the income statement; the bad news is that it will be replaced by amortization and interest charges, which will generally be larger in the first years of a lease and lower in the latter years.

New York City -- Fitch North America said it was awarded branding and retail work from Buffalo Wild Wings, one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the nation.

In addition, Sports Authority has also signed on Fitch. And H&M appointed Fitch as the lead architect for the Southwest region, managing up to nine large outlets per year.

Foxborough, Mass. -- Houston-based women’s fashion accessories retailer Charming Charlie said it has opened its first Massachusetts location at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass.

The 9,000-sq.-ft. store, located in Patriot Place’s North Marketplace, is Charming Charlie’s entrée into the Northeast.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said that it has arranged a 1,500-sq.-ft. lease with La Colombe Torrefaction at 400 Lafayette Street, located in NoHo.

Scheduled to open in the summer, this will be the third New York City location for the coffee house.