Apparel

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has announced the winner of its "Tu Empresa, Tu Futuro/Your Company, Your Future Business" grant competition, which provides grants to Hispanic small business owners.

The four $5,000 grants were awarded to:

• Tayde Aburto, The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce

• Jennifer Burrell, The Frock Shop

• Elizabeth Tarpley, Targeted Tech Solutions

• Kristen Harris, Party Palette

New York City -- New York City remains the world’s most expensive retail destination as retailers focus on the major fashion capitals pushing global rents in prime locations even higher, according to the latest CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Global Retail MarketView.

The average rent for space along Fifth Avenue from 49th Street up to 59th Street hit $1,900 per square foot in the first quarter. Hong Kong and Sydney came in second and third place in the rankings, with average per-square-foot rents of $1,697 and $1,301, respectively.

Dallas -- Human resources solution firm Assess Systems said Thursday that A|X Armani Exchange has chosen Assess to provide pre-employment testing of all stock and sales associates for both the retailer’s Canadian and U.S. operations.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it recently secured the first Manhattan Chobani location at 150 Prince St. in SoHo, located on the southwest corner of West Broadway.

The 550-sq.-ft. space, formerly occupied by Swatch, is set to open this summer.

The SoHo location will introduce the Greek yogurt brand to a thriving retail corridor of Manhattan surrounded by co-tenants that include Lucky Brand, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, among others.
 

New York City -- A report released Wednesday by CB Richard Ellis found that New York City remains the world’s most expensive retail destination as retailers focus on the major fashion capitals, pushing global rents in prime locations even higher.

According to the latest CBRE Global Retail MarketView, the improving economy has had a measurably positive impact.

Tucson, Ariz. -- Commercial Retail Advisors said it has hired Derek Gersdorf as a Retail Specialist.

Gersdorf's duties will include retail leasing and retail tenant representation. Prior to joining Commercial Retail Advisors, he worked as a residential appraiser in the Phoenix and Tucson regions for Casa Grande Appraisal Service and Forsythe Appraisals.
 

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management L.P. and Garrison Investment Group, through their affiliates, have acquired Chapel Hills Mall, located in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Chapel Hills Mall is a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. enclosed super-regional mall anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Sears, Dicks Sporting Goods and Burlington Coat Factory, and features a 15-screen Carmike Cinema and over 100 specialty stores.

New York City -- Luxury, high-end jewelry and e-commerce enjoyed strong growth in May, as did the restaurant category, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, which tracks national retail and services sales. Apparel also continued to show gains, the report found, while housing-related sectors such as furniture, electronics and appliances all saw sales decline compared with the same period in 2010.

New York City -- Express will officially debut its new store design concept this month, in King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, Pa. The format was created by Masamichi Katayama, interior designer and principal of Japanese design firm Wonderwall.

The new environment features design elements of refined chic mixed with unconventional edge and forward-thinking composition to create an individual space with a definite sense of style. The same concept is scheduled to launch at Kenwood Towne Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, also this month.

Open-air shopping destination Santa Monica (Calif.) Place has launched a new gift card partnership to benefit local public schools. One dollar from the purchase fee for every Santa Monica Place Gift Card and GIVE Green Gift Card sold at the center will go to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation.