Home Improvement

Toano, Va. – Boston-based class action law firm Block & Leviton said it is investigating claims that Lumber Liquidators Holdings sold floors to consumers with illegal levels of formaldehyde. Independent testing conducted at two different IAS-certified laboratories has reportedly revealed formaldehyde levels as high 0.17 ppm, three-and-a-half times the government mandated maximum emission level, in Mayflower flooring.

Fort Worth, Texas -- The 15.5-acre Longview Plaza power center has been acquired by Morris-Floyd Capital Partners. Located in Longview, Texas, the property is 100% leased.

Anchors include Bed, Bath & Beyond, T.J. Maxx, Michael’s, Office Depot, Best Buy and Books-A-Million. Sperry Van Ness brokered the sale. Longview Plaza Ltd. was the seller.

Seattle – Six-in-10 U.S. homeowners plan to make a home improvement or addition this summer, according to the Zillow Digs Summer Home Improvement Trend and Spending Survey. Zillow cites tight housing inventory and the fact that more than 25% of homeowners in the U.S. owe more on their mortgage than their property is worth as driving factors in the popularity of home-improvement projects.

Quebec, Canada -- Canadian home-improvement chain Rona Inc. said Thursday it has reached an agreement to sell off its plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning business to Emco Corp. in a deal worth about $207 million.

The division sells plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to commercial and industrial construction customers. The move is expected to add additional financial stability to the company, which is in the midst of a three-year turnaround plan.

Corte Madera, Calif.  -- Restoration Hardware reported record financial results during the first quarter of fiscal 2013, including a net income of $2.3 million compared to a net loss of $1.3 million in the first quarter of the prior year. The company also named Richard Harvey, who spent 30 years as an executive at Williams-Sonoma, most recently as president of Williams-Sonoma brand, as chief merchandising officer of its RH Kitchen and Tableware line.

New York -- Fixtures Living, which specializes in high-end kitchen, bath, outdoor and lifestyle appliances, will open its first East Coast location at Lenox Marketplace in Atlanta. Additional stores are scheduled to open in Glendale, Calif., Chicago and Dallas

The emerging retailer, whose stores average 27,000 sq. ft., currently has three locations in California, in Costa Mesa, Rancho Mirage and San Diego.  

 St. Augustine, Fla. – Barbecue product retailer Heaton Enterprises has reopened its online barbecue store Barbqrub.com. Although never officially closed, the site has added new products including and rubs and marinades as well as grills and grilling tools and will also soon expand its blog to offer best practices, product reviews and recipes.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. reported  a 27% drop in first-quarter earnings amid a cool spring throughout much of the country and rising costs.  But the company, a spinoff from Sears Holdings Corp., pointed to improving signs in late spring.

Sears Hometown earned $15 million in the quarter that ended May 4, compared with $20.6 million in the year ago period.

Revenue dropped 3% to $601.1 million. Same-store sales fell 5%.