Apparel

Middletown, N.J. -- Fameco Real Estate, L.P. said that Bone Fish Grill and Hand & Stone Massage have signed leases at the Chapel Hill Shopping Center, in Middletown, N.J.

Chapel Hill Shopping Center is a 64,507-sq.-ft. community shopping that was renovated four years ago and is anchored by a 45,000-sq.-ft. Whole Foods supermarket.

Bone Fish leased a 5,400-sq.-ft. endcap position. The restaurant is expected to open in September. Hand & Stone leased 3,600 sq. ft. of in-line space. The retailer is expected to open in April.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Real estate broker Scott P. Lifschultz announced he has formed SPL Realty Partners, a retail real estate brokerage and consulting company.

Current clients include CVS/pharmacy, Dean & Deluca, LandMark Retail Group, Johnny Was, Casual Male Retail Group and Destination XL. Based in Santa Monica, Calif., the company’s services include tenant representation, strategic planning, site selection, transaction management, owner representation, leasing & marketing, consulting and investment sales.

Mahwah, N.J. -- Jeweler Bailey Banks & Biddle said Tuesday it has joined TD Retail Card Services’ L.J.C. private-label credit-card program. 

Under the agreement, TD Bank, N.A. will direct the L.J.C. program, which features a revolving private-label credit card created specifically for independent and small-chain retailers of jewelry and other luxury items. Cardholders can avail themselves of a number of special financing options, including multiple deferred interest and equal payment promotions.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Look out Lane Bryant. An exclusive line of plus-size apparel is launching this month at Kmart under the LYS brand names, which stands for love your style and love your size. The LYS collection is said to feature trend forward separates that are designed to flatter plus-size women of all shapes and sizes including printed halters, skinny jeans and tunic dresses.

New York City -- Jo-Ann Stores announced Tuesday that it has received no other takeover bids after a nearly two-month "go-shop" period. The fabric and crafts chain said it will therefore ask shareholders to vote on the company's proposed $1.6 billion sale to Leonard Green & Partners LP.

The meeting is scheduled for March 18.

Jo-Ann Stores, which operates 751 stores in 48 states, announced the proposed sale in December. The company had until Feb. 14 to seek a better offer.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday reported that retail sales continue on a positive trend, edging up 0.3% for the month of January.

The increase to $381.6 billion marked the seventh consecutive month of gains for retail sales. Total sales for the month were above the year-ago period by 7.8%.

New York City -- A Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that hedge fund billionaire and Sears Holding Corp. chairman Edward Lampert has reported holding a 5.8% stake in Gap Inc.

Lampert reported the stake in a 13G filing, or a filing for passive investors, with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Monday.

His ESL Partners company and affiliates reported beneficially holding 35 million common shares.

MINNEAPOLIS-- This spring Target is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its GO International program with a collection that features 34 dresses from 17 past GO International designers. Ranging in price from $24.99 to $44.99, the GO International Designer Collective will be available March 13 through April 10 at most Target stores and Target.com.