Accessories

Denton, Texas -- The Weitzman Group announced it’s brokered a deal with Francesca's for 1,200 sq. ft. of retail space in Golden Triangle Mall, located in Denton, Texas. This will be Francesca’s first location in Denton.

Blake Shipp with the Commercial Retail Division of The Weitzman Group and Paul Burridge with MGHerring Group handled negotiations for the mall. Robert J. Wright with Collett Southwest represented the retailer.

New York -- Douglas Elliman's Retail Group has arranged a lease for LF Stores at 1258 Third Avenue, New York, New York. Located between 72nd and 73rd Streets, the space offers 30 feet of frontage on one of Manhattan's premier avenues for ladies' fashion and fine dining. The Los Angeles-based brand has 30 stores nationwide, including five in the New York Metropolitan area, including one in Soho, and is designed to appeal to teens and young adults.

A merchant that grew from a small boutique in West Hollywood with a celebrity clientele to a multi-store operation is going out of business.

Kitson announced that it is closing its 17 stores, which are located in California, Oregon and Nevada. As of December 11, its e-commerce site had already been shut down.

Executives from Staples and virtual reality firm Magic Leap have joined the strategic advisory board of leading online handbags, luggage and backpacks retailer eBags.

Mike Edwards, eBags president and CEO, said Faisal Masud, executive VP of global e-commerce at Staples, and Scott Henry, CFO at Magic Leap, would bring a wealth of wealth of entrepreneurial and operational experience and an understanding of what it takes to excel in a fast-paced technology to eBags as the newest members of the board.

Women’s lifestyle brand and retailer Vera Bradley is the latest company to feel the negative sales effects of weaning shoppers off promotions, but the strategic shift has done wonders for the company’s bottom line.

The minimalist Japanese lifestyle brand Muji has opened its largest U.S. location yet, a two-level, 12,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. It’s the company’s fifth location in the Big Apple.

The store, designated as Muji’s U.S. flagship, includes such extras as an embroidering station where customers can have their items customized, choosing from more than 100 designs, and an Aroma Lab, where shoppers can create custom scents choosing from some 48 essential oils.

Strong same-store sales in the third quarter did not keep Genesco Inc. from lowering its guidance, as the company takes steps to reduce inventory through promotions and discounts.

The specialty retailer of hats and accessories said that for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, same-store sales increased 7%. Income was $32.9 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $28.8 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Revenue was $774 million from $723 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Taubman announced eight new shopping and dining options will debut at The Mall of San Juan located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before the end of 2015, seven of which are exclusive to the market. Additional more than 20 stores and restaurants are scheduled to open in 2016.

“We’re bringing a taste of New York, Tuscany and Florence to the island with the addition of three new dining experiences,” said Marnie Marquina, marketing and sponsorship director for The Mall of San Juan.

Sam Edelman continues to expand its West Coast retail presence.

The footwear brand turned lifestyle retailer opened a 2,896- sq.-ft. store Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, Calif. The new location is the second in California, and the largest of all Sam Edelman stores, including those planned to open in the next year.

Designed by Dagnell Folger of Architecture + Information, the store stays true to the Sam Edelman aesthetic with a mix of materials that includes reclaimed wood and raw concrete with rose-colored brass and black leather.

Saks Fifth Avenue is pulling out all the stops to make its two upcoming stores in Canada true destinations whose attractions extend beyond buying the latest fashions.

The company will open a163,000-sq.-ft. store at Toronto’s Eaton Centre at Queen Street on February 18, 2016, and a 150,000-sq.-ft. location at Sherway Gardens, also in Toronto, on February 25, 2016.