Apparel

The Von Maur department store chain was founded 140 years ago and less than a month from now the company will open its 27th store in Coralville, Iowa.
 
The 80,000-sq.-ft. freestanding store will be located at the Iowa River Landing retail development and feature the company’s signature exterior entrance and resident ambience.

New York -- Federal authorities have arrested a former Tiffany & Co. executive, charging her with stealing more than $1 million in jewelry and then reselling it for $1.3 million.

According to reports, Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun was arrested at her home in Darien, Conn. She was charged with wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property by the FBI, and could face up to 30 years in prison.

New York -- Urban Outfitters has signed a lease for 56,730 sq. ft. on three levels at W&H Properties’ 1333 Broadway site, where the retailer will create its innovative new “lifestyle center” concept with new features never before seen from the brand, according to Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Holdings, which supervises the W&H Properties portfolio.

The retailer will take occupancy in September.  

Having past the calendar’s mid-point, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the most viewed stories of the year to date on ChainStoreAge.com. (Based on the results,  the ongoing saga of J.C. Penney remains the industry's biggest story.) Here are the Top 10 stories of the first six months:

Atlanta -- Developer OliverMcMillan has secured a $167 million syndicated construction loan, led by PNC Capital Markets, LLC, to finance construction of Buckhead Atlanta, the mixed-use retail, residential and office development located in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

The loan will cover the full construction of the six-block, 8-acre complex. Five lenders are involved, including PNC Bank, N.A., CIT Finance LLC, Compass Bank, Regions Bank and SunTrust Banks.

Long Beach, N.Y. – For five-store women’s specialty retailer Ooh La La Boutiques, maintaining strong customer awareness is critical for successfully competing with larger, more established brands in its crowded vertical. Add in the impact of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath on this chain which is located in and around Long Island, and you have a business in need of personal connection with its customers.

Chicago -- The Macy’s store in the recently renovated Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, has begun its first full-store renovation since opening in 1979. The single-level 100,000 sq. ft. store will receive new flooring, wall treatments, paint and additional accent lighting. In addition, the renovation will reconfigure the aisles to improve flow and sight lines. Macy’s will remain open throughout the renovation, which will finish up in time for the holiday season.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Workwear brand Carhartt is collaborating with vehicle seat cover protection manufacturer Covercraft to deliver Carhartt duck seat protection for pickups, SUVs, vans and over-the-road work trucks.

New York -- Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale will enter Mexico through a licensing agreement with Distribuidora Liverpool, S.A. de C.V. ("Liverpool").

The agreement includes the opening of branded Aeropostale shop-in-shops in Liverpool department stores across Mexico beginning this summer, in addition to rolling out freestanding stores. The first standalone is scheduled to open this summer, in Mexico City’s Sante Fe Mall.

Miami -- Three new retailers opened at The Palms at Town and Country in Miami during May. They include a 23,070l-sq.-ft. Total Wine & More, a 2,518-sq.-ft. Voodoo BBQ & Grill, a New Orleans-style barbecue restaurant, and a 2,119-sq.-ft. Crazy 8, a kids’ line retailer from Gymboree Corp.

Under construction now and opening in November is a 47,982-sq.-ft. DICK’s Sporting Goods.