Casual

San Francisco -- Gap will open its first Italian flagship on  Saturday in the Corso Vittorio Emanuele shopping district of Milan.

The company said that it also plans to open an additional Gap store in Rome next year and a Banana Republic store adjacent to its Milan location "in the near future." The Milan Gap store spans three floors and 25,500 sq. ft. and will offer all Gap clothing collections.
 

New York City -- The NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan will close in late February, due to rising rent. The company said it is looking for a new location in the city.

New York City -- AnnTaylor Stores Corp.'s fiscal third-quarter profit rose, aided by better-than-expected sales growth. Net income surged to $24.2 million in the third quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with $2.1 million a year earlier.

Total sales rose 9.3% to $505.3 million, above analysts' expectations of $492.8 million.

Same-store sales increased 11.7% overall, with a 21.9% rise at the Ann Taylor brand and a 4.5% less expensive Loft chain.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter dropped to $31.2 million, compared with net income of $38.2 million in the prior year.

Net sales declined 2.1% to $453.4 million, compared with $463.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009.

Same-store sales decreased 5.7%.

Canton, Mass. -- Casual Male Retail Group said Thursday it swung to a profit of $0.3 million in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $1.4 million a year earlier.

Total sales edged up 1.4% to $89.9 million, and same-store sales increased 3%.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 30 was $33 million, compared with $59.2 million in the year-ago period. The drop was largely a result of investment losses and a prior-year tax benefit, and masked growth in sales and margins.

Total sales for the quarter increased to $752 million, compared with $736 million last year.

Same-store sales increased 1%.

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter was $34.4 million, compared with a profit of $33.3 million a year earlier.

Net sales increased 5.2% to $243.3 million, from net sales of $231.2 million for the prior year.

Same-store sales edged up 0.5%.

Buckle currently operates 422 retail stores in 41 states.

Hammond, La. -- Hammond, La.-based Stirling Properties, the developer of Hammond Square, has announced that The Children’s Place will open a store at Hammond Square, the company’s power-lifestyle shopping center.

The Children’s Place will occupy 4,290 sq. ft. on Main Street across from Encore Shoe Department. The new store is slated to open early spring 2011.

New York City -- American Eagle Outfitters will open second flagship in Manhattan. The new SoHo store will open Tuesday, Nov. 9.