Retail

Frisco, Texas -- The City of Frisco executed a Memorandum of Understanding with Forest City Development and its partner, Ernest Mahard Jr. to develop a 320-acre mixed-use development on the southwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 380. 

Bounded by Virginia Parkway and County Road 26, this development will encompass retail, residential, office, entertainment, hospitality, municipal parks and services. 

Plano, Texas -- JCPenney Co. announced that it will up its participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program to 400 stores by the end of 2013. Energy Star certification is awarded to buildings that rank within the top 25% of similar commercial buildings nationwide by meeting strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.

JCPenney has a companywide goal to reduce facility energy use 20% by 2015.

Los Angeles -- Samuels & Co. Inc. said it has recently completed five transactions for Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest location-based entertainment company in the world which develops, owns and operates outdoor theme parks and indoor attractions.  

Chelmsford, Mass. -- Kronos announced that Bi-Lo has renewed its contract for Kronos’ selection and hiring solution.

The Kronos solution is designed to allow Bi-Lo to identify candidates who are likely to perform better and stay longer. Also, hiring managers spend less time weeding out unqualified applicants and are able to fill positions more quickly.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A few days after Dick's Sporting Goods reported higher-than-expected earnings, Hibbett Sports posted even more impressive sales and income growth. Hibbett Sports reported that net sales for the first quarter increased 10.4% to $203.7 million compared with $184.5 million for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales increased 6.8%.

New York City -- Discount retailer Syms Corp. was urged by a shareholder to stem losses in its clothing business and sell some of the real estate holdings accumulated by late founder Sy Syms.

According to a Friday report by Bloomberg, Capstone Equities Capital Management LP sent a letter to Syms directors and CEO Marcy Syms on Thursday advocating asset sales, share buybacks and other steps to “enhance shareholder value.” 

York, Pa. -- Bon-Ton Stores said Thursday that its first-quarter loss grew as it booked hefty debt-related charges and sales declined almost 2%. Management blamed unseasonably cold and wet weather for weak sales of seasonal apparel, which forced the retailer to take markdowns and other adjustments.

The company reported a loss of $36 million for the three months ended April 30, compared with a loss of $23.5 million in the same period last year.

By Diarmuid Mallon, [email protected]