Retail

New York City -- Real estate firm The Feil Organization announced Friday that Tommy Bahama has signed a groundbreaking lease for the opening of its first Manhattan store at 551 First Avenue at 45th Street.

The Seattle-based chain signed a 12-year lease agreement and will occupy 8,500 sq. ft. on the ground, mezzanine and basement levels of the renowned art deco Fred F. French building that is owned and managed by The Feil Organization.

North Plainfield, N.J. -- A survey released Friday by Levin Management Corp. said that he majority of shopping center tenants are optimistic about the year ahead.

According to the real estate firm’s pre- and post-holiday survey of Northeastern retailers, 61.5% of respondents were positive about 2011, and 52.2% of respondents said holiday sales topped or equaled 2009

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- HomeGoods reported that according its survey of how people live in their homes, 47% of Americans have not updated their home decor in the last five years and 9% haven't updated their decor in more than 10 years.  As for style, Americans say the overall look of their homes is traditional (44%), followed by modern (22%), eclectic (13%), country (10%) and global (2%).

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Fortune on Thursday released its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, ranking Wegmans Food Markets No. 3 and making the New York-based grocer the highest-ranked retailer. Only the software firm SAS and consulting organization Boston Consulting Group ranked higher. Wegmans has appeared on the Fortune list for 14 consecutive years, every year since the list was first published in 1998.

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse said Friday it has elected former Victoria's Secret Stores CEO Grace Nichols to its board of directors.

The appointment is effective Jan. 30.

Nichols will be the ninth member of the company's board. She worked at Limited Brands for 20 years and was CEO of Victoria's Secret Stores from 1992 to 2007. Nichols is also on the boards of Pacific Sunwear of California and of New York & Co.

Newport Beach, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. said Friday that H&M has leased 19,600 sq. ft. of retail space at The Forum in Carlsbad. 

The retailer signed a 10-year lease for the space, which includes a portion of the second level of The Forum. The company will take the majority of the space currently occupied by Borders Direct LLC, which is expected to vacate in spring 2011. 

The retailer, which plans to open its Carlsbad location in summer 2011, now has 2,200 stores in 38 countries.

WARREN, Mich. -- Art Van Furniture announced that, for the first time in company history, it will grand open three stores in one day. On January 22, 2011, Art Van will celebrate the grand openings of three new stores  in Auburn Hills, Petoskey and Onaway. Mich.

CHICAGO — It seems that private-label brands are getting a sterling reputation among shoppers.

According to new research by Mintel, consumers have taken notice of private-label companies' "better-for-you" products and attractive packaging, as 44% of grocery shoppers believe store-brand products are of better quality today than they were five years ago. What's more, 39% of respondents said they would recommend purchasing a store-brand product.