Apparel

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGresearch found that spending on food, gifts and apparel is expected to increase this Easter.

According to NRF’s 2011 Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, the average consumer is expected to spend $131.04 on everything from candy to clothes -- up from last year’s $118.60, but still not quite meeting pre-recession spending levels.

Total spending on Easter-related merchandise is expected to reach $14.6 billion.

New York City -- Shoppers surprised analysts in March by spending stronger than expected during the month, despite rising gas prices, cooler-than-normal temperatures and a late Easter. The Thomson Reuters Same-Store Sales Index rose 1.7% in March, beating estimates, which called for a decrease of 0.7%.

NEW YORK -- Showing that luxury is experiencing measurable bounce in the recovering economy, the higher-end department stores led the same-store sales pack in March.

Saks outperformed the rest of the category, recording an 11.1% same-store sales increase during the month. Total sales rose 9.2% to $260.2 million, compared with $238.2 million in the year-ago period.

New York City -- Brooks Bros. said Thursday that it has implemented a mobile optimized website to create a unique mobile shopping experience for its customers, powered by Digby’s Mobile Software Commerce Platform.

With the new mobile presence, customers can now search, review and buy products from Brooks Bros. directly from their mobile devices.

New York City -- Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo said Thursday it will open its third New York City location.

The new store, on 34th Street, set to open this fall, following the opening of the chain’s largest flagship location on Fifth Avenue earlier in the fall. Both stores will join the current Uniqlo location in Manhattan’s Soho district.
 

Los Angeles -- Citadel Outlets, Los Angeles's only outlet shopping mall, announced that Tilly's, The Children's Place and U.S. Polo Assn opened in March.

The Children's Place (4,994 sq. ft.) opened on March 29 next to Nautica. Tilly's (5,162 sq. ft.) opened March 21, and the new U.S. Polo Assn. store (3,258 sq. ft.) opened March 9 next to Justice. 

In other center news, Rockport opened up its doors in February, Sprockets Kids relocated within the center, and Hurley, Van's and Bass remodeled and expanded their existing stores.

Bismarck, N.D. -- Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle announced that it has been named as the new property and leasing manager for Kirkwood Mall, an 845,000-sq.-ft. enclosed mall in Bismarck, N.D., by an affiliate of Radiant Partners that recently purchased the mall from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

Kirkwood Mall was built in 1970 and contains 80 shops, anchored by Herberger’s, I. Keating Furniture World, J.C. Penney, Scheels and Target.
 

Boston -- The Wilder Cos. said it has been awarded the leasing and management contract for Wayside Commons, an open-air shopping center in Burlington, Mass.

The contract was awarded by UBS Realty Investors of Hartford, Conn.

Wayside Commons is a 195,100-sq.-ft. outdoor center home to one of only three full-line, 30,000-sq.-ft. signature L.L. Bean stores in Massachusetts as well as a mix of retailers including Arhaus Furniture, Coldwater Creek, Eileen Fisher Company Store, Stellabella Toys and Capital Grille.