Apparel

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space in Austin, Texas, to six new tenants.

Pure Barre opened a 1,750-sq.-ft. studio at North Hills Town Center, bringing the center to 100% occupancy.

Chicago -- Englewood Construction, announced it has completed construction on five retail projects in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., regions.

In the Chicago area, the firm finished construction of a 21,654-sq.-ft. Hhgregg store in Joliet, a 33,115–sq.–ft. Sears outlet in Naperville and a Mrs. Fields/TCBY Yogurt at Westfield Old Orchard shopping center in Skokie.
 

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. said Tuesday that its veteran marketing chief Mike Boylson has retired from the company. His successor will be selected by newly minted CEO Ron Johnson in what will be the former Apple executive’s first senior-level appointment at J.C. Penney.

Boylson was with the department store chain for more than three decades, the last eight years as chief marketing officer. He said in June he would retire from the company on July 1, according to a J.C. Penney spokeswoman.

NEW YORK — Aeropostale announced that it has launced a rewards program for its children's retail brand, P.S. from Aeropostale. 

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers’ Pleasant Hill (Calif.) Shopping Center has more going for it than a vibrant market and a strong anchor lineup. Ross Dress for Less has debuted in the 234,000-sq.-ft. center with its 1,000th store location.

Ross’s new 30,000-sq.-ft. store opened on July 16, bringing Pleasant Hill to 99% occupancy. Other tenants include Target, Toys “R” Us and Barnes & Noble Booksellers alongside national retailers including Men’s Wearhouse, Payless ShoeSource, GameStop, Metro PCS and soon-to-open In-N-Out Burger.

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi's announced that its Denizen jeans brand is making its U.S. debut exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com. 

The brand first launched in Asia in 2010 and is available in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea, in addition to the United States.

Boca Raton, Fla. — Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced Monday that lululemon athletica will grand-open a new store at Town Center at Boca Raton on July 22.

LOS ANGELES — Back-to-school budgets will moderately decrease this year, but more consumers will turn to the Internet to score the best deals.

According to a survey conducted by PriceGrabber, 48% of shoppers said they plan to spend $250 or more on back-to-school purchases, while 25% will spend $500 or more. This compared with 2010, when 56% of consumers indicated that they would spend $250 or more, while 31% planned to spend $500 or more.