Retail

Gainesville, Ga. -- The Atlanta office of Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said that Shoe Carnival recently opened a 9,165-sq.-ft. store in Gainesville, Ga., in the Village Shoppes at Gainesville.

Neighboring retailers include Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, Old Navy and Publix.

The landlord of the center is Inland US Management, LLC.

Victoria, Texas -- Lack Properties and Lack’s Stores said Thursday it has hired Melville, N.Y.-based DJM Realty, a Gordon Bros. Group company, to manage the disposition of all leased and owned retailer and warehouse facilities throughout Texas.

Lack’s is an independently owned retail home furnishings chain operating as Lack’s and Lacks Home Furnishings.

The Woodlands, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in The Woodlands, Texas, at Indian Springs Center to European Wax Center.

Specializing in facial and body waxing, European Wax Center has leased 2,528 sq. ft., bringing the center to 99% leased. The tenant is slated to open for business in February 2011.

The 136,624-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by H.E.B. alongside national retailers such as Subway, Edible Arrangements, Massage Envy and Supercuts.

Hong Kong -- Li & Fung Ltd., the biggest supplier to Wal-Mart Stores said Friday that it may increase acquisitions in China as the country’s consumer spending grows, U.S. demand rebounds and inflation propels companies to seek partners.

Li & Fung president Bruce Rockowitz told Bloomberg that it may buy Chinese companies in the fashion, cosmetics and furniture industries in the next three years. He also said it will increase purchases in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Mansfield, Conn. -- LeylandAlliance, master developer for Storrs Center, announced that Charter Realty & Development Corp. has been named the exclusive retail leasing broker for Storrs Center.

Storrs Center is a $220 million, mixed-use town center and Main Street project located in Storrs, Conn. The public-private partnership is being developed in cooperation with LeylandAlliance, the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, and Education Realty Trust.

Abilene, Kan. -- Duckwall-Alco Stores reported Friday that its loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31 widened from $1.4 million to $2 million.

The small-town retailer also reported that revenue dropped 0.6% to $110.5 million. Same-store sales decreased 2.3%, which was an improvement over the second-quarter same-store sales drop of 7.2%.

Montvale, N.J. -- A report Friday said that Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. may file for bankruptcy in the coming days to restructure debt.

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported that a filing to reorganize under court protection may come as soon as this weekend. A&P hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP to represent it in negotiations with creditors and in any Chapter 11 proceeding, according to the report.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that it has hired two new brokers in its Houston office.

Jennifer Paulson and Carter Malone recently joined the company as associates. The new hires come on the heels of a strategic move to grow the company’s local presence in Houston.