Apparel

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico’s FAS Inc. may be the next big-name retailer to undergo an acquisition. Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is reportedly pursuing a $3 billion acquisition of the specialty women’s apparel retailer.

According to Reuters, Sycamore already has an agreement in principle to acquire Chico’s, contingent upon obtaining financing. However, Sycamore may be having difficulty finding a bank or banks willing to allow as much debt as the company is looking for.
 

Savannah, Ga. – Specialty discount apparel retailer Citi Trends Inc. reported some encouraging trends in terms of sales for fiscal and full year 2014. Total sales for the fourth quarter increased 15% to $181.1 million, compared with $157.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

Same-store sales increased 13.9% in the fourth quarter. A number of winter storm-related closings in January 2014 and an earlier start to tax refund season the last two days of the month in January 2015 helped boost same-store sales for the quarter.

Indianapolis - The Finish Line Inc. is running an omnichannel promotion linked to the upcoming pro basketball all-star weekend in New York City. Finish Line collaborated with Under Armour, pro basketball star Stephen Curry and several key influencers within the basketball marketplace to host a contest surrounding the new Curry 1 product launch on Feb. 13.

Duluth Trading Company has promoted Stephanie Pugliese to president and chief executive officer.

Pugliese is a former executive with Ann Taylor and Lands’ End.

The previous CEO and principal owner of Duluth Trading, Steve Schlecht, will continue as the company’s executive chairman. Pugliese’s appointment is effective immediately.

Randolph, Mass. - Distinctive Apparel has selected MarketLive as its new e-commerce technology platform to support its online and multi-channel retail operations. Privately-held Distinctive Apparel is the parent company for catalog retailers Chadwicks of Boston, Territory Ahead and Metrostyle, and all three brands will be joining the move.

Distinctive Apparel will deploy MarketLive’s full commerce suite, including a new Support Call Center module.

Minneapolis -- Shorenstein Properties LLC announced Sports Authority signed a lease for 21,877 sq. ft. at Minneapolis City Center.
 
Sports Authority has ten stores in the Minneapolis area but this marks the company’s first store in downtown Minneapolis.  The store is expected to open in fall 2015.

Seattle -- REI will enter two new states in the fall, opening a store at the new Christiana Fashion Center, in Christiana, Delware, and another at the new Mills Crossing, in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The outdoor gear and apparel retailer also plans to open a store in Virginia Beach, Virginia, at Pembroke Mall, in spring 2016.

New York -- The fast-growing Michael Kors has opened its largest and most comprehensive location to date, a three-story, 22,000-sq. ft. flagship in the Soho section of Manhattan. The store features the debut of the men’s collection in the brand’s own retail stores, with the first-ever in-store presentation of men’s shoes and and an entire floor dedicated to accessories, and the first dedicated Michael Kors shoe salon. Huge, floor-to-ceiling video screens, set on all three floors, help bring the products to life.

Livermore, Calif. -- Simon announced today that Livermore Premium Outlets, the Bay Area's premier outlet shopping center, will be rebranded and named San Francisco Premium Outlets in conjunction with its major expansion.

The 512,000-sq.-ft. center opened in 2012 and is currently undergoing a significant expansion to add 185,000 sq. ft. to be populated by leading designer brands, opening on August 13, 2015.

Santa Ana, Calif. -- As part of Westfield MainPlace’s redevelopment plan, the Santa Ana, California, center announced two new dining destinations: Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que and Wokcano. Slated to debut late summer/early fall 2015, these announcements come on the heels of three recent restaurant openings: Panini Café (December 2014), Dog Haus and Blaze Pizza (both November 2014).