Footwear

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports Inc. said that its third-quarter profit jumped 27%, amid strong demand for shoes and apparel. The results beat Wall Street expectations and Hibbett raised its earnings forecast for the full year.

For the quarter ended Oct. 29, the sporting-goods chain reported net income of $16 million, up from $12.6 million in the year ago period. Sales increased 11% to $185.2. Same-store sales rose 7%.
 

Charlotte, N.C. -- CNL Crosland Commercial Real Estate announced two new tenant signings and an expansion for an existing retailer at Blakeney, a retail shopping center in south Charlotte, N.C.

Flywheel Sports is slated to open at Blakeney in January. Accessory boutique Bijuju opened earlier in November, and Creative by Nature Home doubled its square footage and moved into a new space in September.

Dallas -- GTM Development, a limited partnership created by The MGHerring Group and Cencor Realty Services, said it has completed the acquisition of Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas.

MGHerring will be responsible for the redevelopment of the 765,000-sq.-ft. Golden Triangle Mall, which will begin in early 2012 with a grand reopening slated for next fall.

Cencor manages the mall while MGHerring and The Weitzman Group, Cencor’s brokerage affiliate, jointly lease the property.

Indianapolis -- The Finish Line announced that Chris Ladd will join the company Nov. 21 as executive VP, chief digital officer. Ladd’s responsibilities will include providing vision, leadership and strategy to develop and implement initiatives across the enterprise including digital and mobile commerce, social media and other key components of the multichannel experience.

He comes to Finish Line from Lululemon, a 150-store specialty retailer of yoga-inspired athletic apparel, where he served as senior VP, Global Ecommerce.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — The economy may be keeping some families from purchasing new clothes for their children, but that didn't stop The Children's Place from delivering earnings that beat estimates.

The company reported income from continuing operations of $33.7 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, compared with $31.2 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.27 per diluted share.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores reported Thursday that net income increased to $33.7 million for the quarter ended Oct. 29, up from $31.2 million a year earlier.

Sales rose 7% to $484.1 million from $453.4 million. Same-store sales edged up 0.9%.

Bethesda, Md. -- Streetsense announced that Founding Farmers restaurant has opened a 7,000-sq.-ft. location at Park Potomac, an 110,000-sq.-ft retail center that is part of a mixed-use community developed by Foulger-Pratt of Rockville, Md.

The new restaurant, which is described as “barnyard chic” and featuring natural ingredients, is joined by Harris Teeter grocery store, as well as Elevation Burger, Emily Grace Fashion Boutique, Love Couture Bridal, Wine Harvest, Zoe's Kitchen, and other shops and services.

Queens, N.Y. -- Onex Real Estate Partners said that Taiwanese tea brand Coco Fresh Tea & Juice has opened its newest teashop at Sky View Center, the 800,000-sq.-ft., multi-level regional mall in downtown Flushing, N.Y.

The 600-sq.-ft. teashop operates a sister location on Main Street, in Flushing.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic Inc. reported Wednesday that profit rose to $3.1 million in the quarter ended Oct. 29, compared with $400,000 in the year-ago period. Prior-year results were weighed down by charges from its ShockHound website, which folded.

Revenue fell 4% to $175.8 million from $183.2 million in the quarter, missing Wall Street’s expected $177.8 million in revenue.

Same-store sales dipped 1.6% at Hot Topic and Torrid stores, attributed to disappointing Halloween sales.
 

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced that Bravo! Cucina Italiana has opened at Willow Grove Park.

The 7,500-sq.-ft. restaurant is the first of its kind in the region, according to PREIT.