Apparel

Ascena Retail Group has appointed Judith Langley as EVP and chief merchandising officer of Dressbarn.

“Judi is an outstanding merchant with deep specialty and large retail format experience. She will play a key role in the evolution of the Dressbarn brand and we are delighted to have her joining the team,” said David Jaffe, president and CEO of Ascena Retail Group.

New York -- Sears Canada announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its 50% joint venture interest in eight properties it owns to Montez Income Properties Corp. for approximately $300 million (C$315 million). Sears’ joint venture partner in the properties is The Westcliff Group of Companies.

The company said it will sell its interests in four regional shopping centers, two strip centers and two open-air retail centers.

Seattle -- Nordstrom plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Magnolia Park in Greenville, S.C. The approximately 32,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2014.  Magnolia Park is being developed by Menin Development.   

The Magnolia Park Nordstrom Rack will be the company's first location in South Carolina.

Tarrytown, N.Y. — DLC Management Corporation, a national owner and operator of open-air shopping centers, announces the following new leases that were signed in October 2013:

•    Back to Bed, 3,852 SF, Crossroads Shopping Center – Schererville, Ind.
•    Better Sofas, 3,590 SF, Southwest Plaza – Roanoke, Va.

•    China Buffet, 4,500 SF, King City Square – Mount Vernon, Ill.


Grand Rapids, Mich. — Meijer will open a 190,000-sq.-ft. supercenter in Danville, Ill., on Nov. 7, the sixth new Meijer store to open this year.

The family-owned retailer, which opened its first store in 1934, now has 204 stores throughout the Midwest.

Santa may need to send his suit to the dry cleaners next week after Belk gets a jump on Christmas by hosting an event called Santafest on Saturday, November 16.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based department store chain operates 301 stores in 16 southern states, more than half of which are located in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. It can be quite warm and humid in the Southeast well into November with hurricane season not officially ending until November 30.

Warrendale, Pa. – Rue21 has launched its e-commerce site, Rue21.com. Prices on the site will be the same as prices in the retailer’s stores.

In honor of the launch rue21 is hosting a "Shop & Win" contest in which five winners will receive a $50 gift card by talking about their favorite rue21 items on the internet. Using hashtag #shoprue21.com, fans can post pictures or comments on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.

A new process for sustainable sourcing called Dockers Wellthread was unveiled by Levi Strauss & Co. which integrates product design, environmental practices and worker well-being.