Apparel

Birmingham, Ala. -- Brookwood Village, a mixed-use development located in the affluent Mountain Brook and Homewood area of Birmingham, Ala., announced that leading specialty bedding company Mattress Firm will join the shopping center’s merchant roster in 2015.       

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. will expand into Israel through an international franchise agreement with Israeli fashion retail chain H&O Fashion Ltd. (H&O). Through this relationship, Destination Maternity will introduce its Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, and Destination Maternity brands into Israel, with the first franchise locations expected to open in spring 2015.    

New York -- Holiday shopping is going to start early this year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ latest consumer tracking survey. About 35% of consumers have or will have started their holiday shopping by the end of October. Roughly three out of five shoppers will begin shopping by Thanksgiving this year, and by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend 86% will have started making purchases.   

Former Delia’s and J. Crew executive Walter Killough has joined consulting firm O Alliance as managing director.

The O Alliance is a new consulting firm positioned to help retailers pursue the concept of circular commerce.  In his new role, Killough will be responsible for business development, strategic partnerships and overall day-to-day management of the company. Killough spent 10 years with junior’s retailer Delia’s and most recently served as CEO. Prior to that he served as COO of J. Crew Group.

New York -- The O Alliance, a new consulting firm helping retailers to create circular commerce, announced that it is expanding its senior management team with the appointment of retail industry veteran and multi-channel expert Walter Killough as a managing director. He will be responsible for business development, strategic partnerships and overall day-to-day management of the company.  

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- The Mall at University Town Center has opened in Sarasota, Fla. Featuring more than 100 retailers and restaurants, well over half of which are unique to the Sarasota-Manatee market. The Mall at UTC is the only newly built enclosed regional shopping center to open in the United States this year.  

Dublin, Calif. –- Ross Stores opened 20 new Ross Dress for Less and eight new DD’s Discounts stores across 14 different states in September and October.     These new locations are part of the off-price retailer’s plans to add a total of approximately 75 Ross and 20 DD’s Discounts stores during 2014.  

Philadelphia -- Off-price retailer Century 21 Department Store will open in Philadelphia on Oct. 28, 2014. Century 21 will serve as the anchor tenant of The Gallery, a shopping center undergoing a redevelopment.