Apparel

City of Industry, Calif. -- On the heels of its Wednesday report that the company gained just 0.2% in October same-store sales, Hot Topic Inc. also announced plans to test a new store that will specialize in dark, edgy lingerie.

Called Blackheart, the concept will target the company’s core teen customer and will debut with five stores in southern California and Texas malls as well as online offerings beginning in mid-November.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney has added limited-engagement collections from Lulu by Lulu Guinness, Jenny Packham and Double Happiness Vivienne Tam to its holiday assortment.

Livermore, Calif. -- Paragon Outlets Livermore Valley, the first new outlet center to open in California since 2001, will hold its grand opening weekend celebration Nov. 8 through Nov 11.

Developed by Paragon Outlet Partners, a commercial real estate development firm headquartered in Baltimore, the $150 million, 543,000-sq.-ft. outlet center will feature 130 leading designer and top brand name stores.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Tyco Retail Solutions, a provider of retail performance and security solutions sold direct and through authorized business partners worldwide, has expanded its portfolio of Sensormatic acousto-magnetic Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) hard tags and alarming wraps. The newly available tags address many high theft, high velocity categories and give retailers a broad, comprehensive solution to protect their entire store, the company said.

The New Sensormatic Tag Portfolio includes:

By Peter Burgoyne, [email protected]

Paris -- A Tuesday report by Women’s Wear Daily said that sporting goods retailer IIC-Intersport International Corp. will acquire 100% of The Athlete’s Foot, expanding Intersport’s presence to 63 countries from its current 41.

New York -- Fifth & Pacific Cos.-owned Kate Spade said Wednesday it has completed the acquisition of joint-venture partner Sanei International Co.’s 51% interest in Kate Spade Japan Co.

Kate Spade Japan was a joint venture that was formed between Sanei and Kate Spade in August 2009. Kate Spade Japan operated the Kate Spade and Jack Spade businesses in Japan, and Kate Spade will continue to operate the businesses in Japan though its Japanese subsidiary.

The purchase price was $47.6 million.

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties announced that Sam’s Club has opened at its River Chase shopping center, the largest open-air retail center in St. Tammany Parish.

The 136,000-sq.-ft. Sam’s Club features a fuel station and pharmacy, and joins anchors Target, Belk and J.C. Penney at the master-planned, mixed-use development.