Apparel

Shopper activity decreased this September, in line with ShopperTrak’s predictions. Total retail store shopper traffic for the month decreased 20.2% compared to August. In a year-over-year comparison, shopper traffic for September 2013 decreased 6.9% compared to the same month last year.

Back-to-school shopping activity that peaked in August slowed as school came back in session. The early Labor Day (Sept. 2) compounded the reduction in September’s shopper activity by combining two normally distinct shopping opportunities into just one.

Springfield, Mass. — Charter Realty has announced four leases totaling 59,030 sq. ft. in the Springfield Plaza Center in Springfield, Mass.

Planet Fitness will move into a 20,000-sq.-ft. facility currently under construction. Aaron’s Rentals has renewed its lease for 8,030 sq. ft. Rocky’s Ace Hardware has also renewed on 25,500 sq. ft. Finally, the 99 Restaurant has renewed a 5,500-sq.-ft. space.

K-Mart, Super Stop and Shop and TJMAXX anchor the 550,000-sq.-ft. Springfield Plaza Center.

Seattle -- The global retail real estate market rebounded in the first half of the year, with international and luxury brands expanding to new markets and high street properties growing in popularity, according to a new report from Colliers International. Fifth Avenue in Manhattan claimed the highest rent, at $3,052 per square foot, followed by Hong Kong’s Queen's Road Central ($2,086) and Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui ($1,993), London’s Old Bond Street ($1,520) and Manhattan’s Madison Avenue ($1,325).

Specialty retailer Sport Chalet is promoting its yoga apparel and gear to experienced yogis and first-timers alike.

Denton, Texas — Body Central will open a new location at Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas, on Oct. 9. The specialty women’s apparel retailer operates more than 200 stores in 23 states across the U.S., under the Body Central and Body Shop banners.

Golden Triangle, Denton’s only mall, features Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Sears, Barnes & Noble and DSW Shoe Warehouse as anchors. Cencor Realty Services manages the mall, and The Weitzman Group and MG Herring Group handle the leasing.

I don’t want to be a Grinch, but things aren’t looking too promising for retailers who were hoping to end the year on a holiday high note. But, before I get into more predictions on retail sales this holiday season, it might be a good idea to talk a little bit about why I’m feeling so lukewarm about the prospects for a 2013 end-of-year bonanza.

Kansas City — Legends Outlets Kansas City has announced that a Toys “R” Us Express pop-up location is now open at the Village West shopping and dining destination. The 3,954-sq.-ft. store will operate through the holiday season.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. on Tuesday said that it was making “solid progress” in its turnaround as it reported a smaller decline in same-store sales for September, compared to August. The company also said it expects that it will have ample liquidity at year end.

While Penney’s September same-store sales fell 4% over the same month last year, they showed an improvement of 580 basis points compared with August.