Retail

Cincinnati -- The Streets of West Chester, a 167,638-sq.-ft. lifestyle center near Cincinnati, is kicking off the pre-development leasing and marketing for the second phase of its retail center with a 200,000-sq.-ft. planned expansion slated to open in spring 2016.

The Streets of West Chester expansion will join the opening of the new Bass Pro, beginning construction this summer, adjacent to The Streets, and will provide shoppers with new retail, restaurants and entertainment.

New York -- Coupon website RetailMeNot plans to make deals more personalized for users. The website and app offers coupons and deals to customers based on their location and stores and restaurants that they’ve favorited. Now, with more than 18 million downloads of the mobile app and a June launch of a tablet app, RetailMeNot is planning to expand its capabilities to allow retailers to use the app as a tool for reaching new customers.

Minneapolis -- Free standing Insert (FSI) coupon activity increased 3.4% t based on coupons dropped during the first six months of 2014 versus the year ago period, according to Marx, a Kantar Media solution. Coupons dropped within non-food categories increased 8.2% to represent 65% of the 158 billion FSI coupons distributed during this period.
 

Los Angeles -- Kennedy Wilson has closed four retail and entertainment lease transactions in Hollywood, Santa Monica and Westchester. The collection of new leases carries an aggregate value of more than $3 million.

New York -- Winick Realty Group announced three new retail leases at 400 Broome Street, fronting Kenmare, Cleveland and Broome Streets in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood.

Aaron S. Fishbein and Darrell Rubens of Winick Realty Group represented landlord Coral Broome Street LLC as they repositioned and upgraded these ground-floor retail opportunities.

New York -- Another online retailer has made the leap to the physical space.  Beauty subscription company Birchbox has opened its first brick-and-mortar store, in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The two-level store brings the company’s digital experience to life, with a big emphasis on new products, customer reviews and expert advice. It also offers hair, nails and make-up services and group classes on various topics. The first class, taking place the week of July 21, will focus on make-up contouring tricks.
  

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Southeast on July 19th.  The store openings are in The Village on Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Georgia, and Dixie Valley Shopping Center in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky.  These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Chicago -- High-income consumers think warehouse club products are on a par with leading brands, according to new research from Mintel. Indeed, 38% believe store brand or private label brands at warehouse clubs are comparable to name brand items in terms of quality — a number that increases to 44% of households earning $150K+. That's the highest percentage of all income groups surveyed, compared to 27% of those earning less than $25K, 36% of those earning $50-$74.9K and 41% of those with incomes between $100-$149.9K.