Retail

Toano, Va. – Lumber Liquidators is launching a blog designed to promote the retailer’s “Lay It Forward” philanthropic program. The blog will share inspirational stories of the various charitable organizations Lumber Liquidators supports through Lay It Forward and also allow visitors to make donations.

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sport Chalet is teaming up with California Triathlon, a statewide network of triathlon clubs in California, as part of its strategy to position itself as a one-stop shopping destination for triathletes.

The partnership drives foot traffic into Sport Chalet's brick-and-mortar stores by encouraging members of the various participating triathlon clubs to turn to the retailer for the equipment and gear they need.

New York -- The U.S. Green Building Council’s membership has voted to adopt the next version of its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system.

The new update, LEEDv4, will launch this fall at USGBC’s annual Greenbuild convention. It has been expanded to include more building sectors, such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers.

Another LEED v4 change includes allocating about 20% of all points to optimizing energy performance over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010.

A Walmart employee in Canada was fired this week after confronting a customer who left a dog in a truck, according to a television report out of Ontario.

Walmart, Target, Best Buy and other retailers created a cooperative nearly a year ago to develop a mobile payment approach and this week they welcomed another major player to the fold.

New York -- Meijer is set to open its first store in the city of Detroit on July 25, according to Crain's Detroit Business.

The store will anchor a new shopping center and will feature a grocery section, drive-thru pharmacy, gas station and Huntington National Bank branch. Other tenants at the shopping center will include clothing and pet supply stores and fast-food restaurants.

Whole Foods Market recently opened a store in Detroit.

Calabasas, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has named Paul Loubet as western region director of the national retail group.

Based in the firm’s Newport Beach, Calif., office, Loubet will direct more than 100 investment sales professionals operating from more than 25 offices comprising Marcus & Millichap’s western region.

New York -- Walmart said it was walking away from its plans to build three stores in Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill on late Wednesday setting a higher minimum wage for large retailers.

”This was a difficult decision for us — and unfortunate news for most D.C. residents — but the Council has forced our hand,”  said Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo in a statement released after vote, which passed 8 to 5.