Apparel

Philadelphia -- Teen and tween retailer Five Below will open 60 stores this year, including its first-ever locations in Texas.

The retailer said it will open four to five stores in Austin, Texas, and 10 to 12 stores in Dallas by late summer, with the potential for more than 100 stars in the Lone Star Sate stores over time.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Target officially unveiled its partners, owned brands and limited-time only collections that will be featured in its Canadian stores, which will  start opening in March/April 2013.

In addition to Target's ongoing partnerships, the Canadian stores will include an exclusive, limited-time only collaboration with Roots. The new Roots Outfitters collection for Target will offer fashion for women, men, boys, girls and toddlers, and will be available from March to June 2013.

NEW YORK — Actress Kate Hudson is extending her relationship with Ann Taylor by developing a capsule collection for the fashion retailer. In addition, Hudson will return as ambassador of its spring and summer 2013 campaigns. 

New York -- Ann Inc. said Thursday that actress Kate Hudson will continue her role as the face of Ann Taylor for its spring and summer 2013 campaigns.

However, said the retailer, this year Hudson's role will grow as both a design influence and charitable ambassador as well. For the summer collection, she will be developing a capsule collection for the brand. In addition, Hudson will join the Advisory Council for the company's ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative, a program that supports the empowerment of young women.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Mall owner CBL & Associates Properties said Thursday that, in 2013, it will complete multi-million dollar renovations at three major malls: Friendly Center in Greensboro, N.C.; Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Va.; and The Mall of Acadiana in Lafayette, La.

Berlin, Vt. -- Berlin Mall LLC announced it has cleared the last two permitting hurdles to begin an 18,700-sq.-ft. expansion of The Berlin Mall, located in Berlin, Vt. The expansion is part of a planned increase in the size of its Walmart anchor store, which will also expand into existing, adjoining retail space at the mall
     
Construction is slated to start spring 2013.
 

Purchase, N.Y. -- National Realty & Development Corp. said Tuesday that Lane Bryant will open two new locations within its portfolio, Hadley Center in South Plainfield, N.J., and Northampton Crossings in Easton, Pa.

The plus-size retailer will open a 5,000-sq.-ft. store in each location. Both are slated to open in the spring.

Hadley Center is a 542,000-sq.-ft. power center anchored by Target, Kohl’s Department Store, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Regal Cinemas and Marshalls Megastore.

New York -- Douglas Elliman Real Estate's Retail Group said it has arranged for luxury sportswear brand Le Civette to anchor its first U.S. store at 1242 Madison Avenue, between 89th and 90th Streets.  

The Italian-based retailer will locate its new store in the last available space along the block-front; neighbors include Jacadi, Mariana Antinori and Caramel Baby.

Albany, Ore. -- Vintage Real Estate announced said Wednesday it has appointed Betsy Penson as general manager of its recently acquired Heritage Mall, located in Albany, Ore.

Most recently Penson was general manager/marketing director for CenterCal Properties’ Blackhawk Plaza in Danville, Calif. Earlier in her career she was the general manager and marketing director for a 400,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center, The Streets of Tanasourne in Hillsboro, Ore., and the general manager of the Lancaster Mall in Salem, Ore.

New York -- In a Thursday report by the New York Post citing unnamed sources, the publication said that J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson is pushing some of its vendors to inflate their pricing so that the department store’s retail pricing appears lower than it actually is.

Sources told The Post that the plan includes putting up signs and fixturing to display fabricated retail pricing, while the merchandise is then tagged with J.C. Penney’s own lower prices.