Retail

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Thursday it will open its first four stores in Washington, D.C., as part of the retailer’s effort to increase its urban expansion stride.

Wal-Mart said it plans to open the smaller-format urban stores in Washington, D.C. in late 2012, and said it has met little resistance from the area. The retailer said its poll of 800 locals found nearly three-quarters of Washingtonians favored Wal-Mart coming to the city.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores reported Thursday earnings for the quarter ended Oct. 30 rose 16% to a record $121.4 million, compared with $105.1 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 7% to $1.874 billion, with same-store sales up 3% on top of a strong 8% gain in the prior year.

Chicago -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on Thursday launched two, long-awaited green building programs: LEED for Retail, and the LEED Volume Program (usgbc.org/leed/retail).

Albany, N.Y. -- Trans World Entertainment Corp. reported Thursday that it recorded a loss of $16.1 million in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $22.3 million a year earlier.

Total sales dropped 20% to $128.8 million. Same-store sales decreased 5%.

The company, which owns the f.y.e. (For Your Entertainment) chain of music stores, operated an average of 533 stores during the quarter, compared with 694 in the same quarter last year, a 23% decline.

 

Natick, Mass. -- BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to raise its annual membership fees by $5, to $50, and invest the increased revenues in store remodels.

The fee increase, which will start in January, is the company’s first since 2006. BJ’s said it would generate about $20 million in new revenue, including an expectation that renewals would decrease 1% to 1.5% as a result of the hike.