Retail

The recent announcement that retail giant Walmart plans to open more than 100 of the brand’s Neighborhood Market stores in 2013, and as many as 500 Neighborhood Market locations over the next few years, has industry analysts and observers talking. They have my attention, as well.

New Orleans -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties said that Walgreens has opened a new store on Magazine Street in New Orleans.

New York -- Macy’s announced that it will expand its online order fulfillment center in Goodyear, Ariz., to accommodate continued sales growth as part of the company’s omni-channel strategy. The company is expected to invest more than $35 million in capital in the project.

New York -- Eddie Lampert, chairman of Sears Holding Corp., has signed a contract to remain as CEO of the retail company at a salary of $1 per year, the Associated Press reported. Sears announced in January that Lampert would take over as CEO after Louis J. D'Ambrosio stepped down due to family health issues.
    
Lampert’s new contract is effective Feb. 1, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Lampert also has the opportunity for a bonus of up to $2 million in cash or stock and up to $4.5 million in stock per year.

Boston -- City Sports announced that it will open its 22nd retail location in New York City, on March 26. It will be City Sports' third location in New York City.

The new store, in the city’s financial district, will be the company’s largest retail location to date, with nearly 11,000 sq. ft. of selling space devoted to athletic apparel, footwear and equipment.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be opening a third retail location in New York City," said City Sports president and CEO Edward Albertian.

New York -- Supervalu on Thursday announced the completion of the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium. The stock deal is valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption.

Miami -- Perry Ellis International announced that is has expanded its e-commerce reach and worldwide accessibility with the launch of international shipping on all its e-commerce sites, provided by FiftyOne Global Ecommerce.

Among the over 100 countries Perry Ellis now serves are Canada, Australia, Mexico, Japan and many others across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack in Louisville, Ky. The 33,000-sq.-ft. store, at Shelbyville Road Plaza, is scheduled to open in fall 2013 and will be the retailer's first location in the state.

Nordstrom is also expanding its presence in Florida. It will open a Nordstrom Rack at the Shoppes at University Town Center to serve customers in the Sarasota-Bradenton metro area. The approximately 35,000-sq.-ft.store is scheduled to open in fall 2013.