Retail

Huntsville, Ala. -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty has completed construction on Huntsville, Ala.’s first Academy Sports + Outdoors. The 72,000-sq.-ft. store, which opened on April 26, is the third Academy Sports development for GBT. Reed Construction served as site contractor and Stewart Perry Construction as general contractor on the project.

GBT completed construction in fall 2012 for stores in Mobile, Ala., and Smyrna, Tenn.

New York -- North American consumers opened their wallets in the first quarter of 2013 and exhibited a desire to spend again, although they remain cautious, according to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions. Forty-two percent said they plan to spend on discretionary items this year, a six-point rise from fourth quarter 2012, and up from the average of 33% over the past three years.

El Paso, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial Real Estate said it has negotiated leases for two retailers entering or expanding in the El Paso, Texas, market.
 
Rue21 has opened a 5,000-sq.-ft. store at El Paseo Marketplace, its fourth location in El Paso.

Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry has signed a lease to open its first El Paso location in a 6,057-sq.-ft. store at The Fountains at Farah, a 600,000-sq.-ft. power lifestyle center currently under construction and opening fall 2013.   

Middleburg Heights, Ohio -- Brixmor Property Group announced that a 14,151-sq.-ft. Tuesday Morning recently opened at Southland Shopping Center, located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Southland Shopping Center.

By Rana K. Williamson, PhD, Better Merchant Accounts

San Jose, Calif. -- Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp. reported Monday a loss of $33.6 million for the quarter ended Feb. 2, widened from a loss of $7.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales for the quarter rose to $153 million from $141.6 million, and same-store sales edged up 1.6%.

For the full year,  the company lost $118.4 million, compared with a loss of $14.5 million in the prior year. Sales dipped to $657.3 million, compared to $660.5 million for fiscal 2011.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Target announced the soft opening dates for 24 locations in Western Canada, with 22 stores opening on May 7 and two  opening on May 14.

The openings, which include stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, follow the opening of 24 stores across Ontario. As previously announced, Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.