Apparel

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said that Tommy Bahama will open a new store at Town Center at Boca Raton, located in Boca Raton, Fla.

The new 3,400-sq.-ft. store is slated to open Sept. 1. The grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 10.

Target may want to rethink its space allocation for the sporting goods department in light of the success the company is having with its Fan Central initiative. Granted, Fan Central is a licensed apparel program within the sporting goods department, but EVP merchandising Kathee Tesija described the success the program is having as “remarkable” during a recap of key merchandising initiatives earlier this month in a meeting with financial analysts.

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Terranova Corp. said that men’s fashion retailer Romo Italian Designers will open a 1,020-sq.-ft. store at the Crossing Shopping Village, in Miami.

The location is a first for the retailer under the Romo Italian Designers banner. The store is slated to open by the end of August. 

The Crossings Shopping Village is anchored by Publix, and tenanted by CVS, Blockbuster Video and Chicken Kitchen.
 

PARIS — Gap Inc. has announced plans to open its first Banana Republic store in France in Paris in early December. Synonymous with culture, quality, heritage and style, the store will be , one of the most popular international shopping destinations in the world.

The 15,952 sq. ft. Paris flagship store will be located on Avenue des Champs Élysées and will occupy more than two floors.

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- JDA Software Group announced that MC Sports, which operates  more than 70 stores in seven Midwestern states, selected JDA Allocation and JDA Size Scaling to help increase revenue while reducing inventory levels.

Target failed to crack a ranking of the top 10 most effective back-to-school ads compiled by Ace Metrix that was dominated by retail competitors and technology companies.

San Francisco -- Gap announced Monday that it will open its first Banana Republic store in France in Paris in early December. The 15,952-sq.-ft. store will be located on Avenue des Champs Élysées, one of the most popular international shopping destinations in the world.

“Following the success of our London and Milan openings, we are delighted to bring Banana Republic to Paris and take another exciting step in our international growth strategy,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, International, Gap.
 

America is on sale for foreign tourists thanks to the weak U.S. dollar, and it has been a boon for retailers who operate stores in key destinations. Nowhere was this phenomenon more evident than last week when Tiffany & Co. reported spectacular second quarter results that were aided by a 41% sales increase at its flagship New York store. That location is frequented by tourists, and so is the Saks flagship New York location, which reported a second quarter comp increase in the neighborhood of 15%.