Consumer Electronics

The historic May flood of 2010 in Nashville and Middle Tennessee took 23 lives, displaced thousands of residents and flooded hundreds of businesses, as more than 13 inches of rain was recorded over a two-day period and the Cumberland River reached nearly 12 ft. above flood stage.

Among the business casualties was the Opry Mills, a Simon Property Group outlet retail destination seven miles from downtown Nashville and a short walking distance from the Grand Ole Opry.

Indianapolis -- Finish Line said Monday that the president of its e-commerce division will retire.

Don Courtney will depart following a transition period, remaining in his current role during the retailer’s search for his successor.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday it plans to reduce space for electronics in its U.S. stores, saying that sales in that category have declined.

The company will reduce floor space devoted to items such as flat-screen televisions and give some of that space to apparel, according to Rosalind Brewer, who runs the Wal-Mart East division and addressed a retail conference in Atlanta on Tuesday.

SEATTLE — Amazon announced that it is now offering a new Kindle for $114, compared with $139 for its standard model and $189 for the 3G version. The catch is that the $114 Kindle requires the user to view special offers and sponsored products on screensavers and on the bottom of the home screen.

Indianapolis -- Finish Line announced that Terry Ledbetter has been appointed CIO, effective April 14. Most recently, he served as VP information technology, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

In other appointments, the chain said that Donald J. Gualdoni has been appointed VP business development and corporate strategy, effective April 14.

Boston -- O'Connor/Real Vest Retail Holding Co., LLC, a partnership formed by O'Connor Capital Partners and Wafra Investment Advisory Group, have teamed with The Wilder Cos. to complete transactions that include the purchase of Milford Marketplace in Milford, Conn., and the acquisition of the ownership interest in Phase I of Settlers Ridge in Pittsburgh.

The centers were developed and managed by Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL Properties.
 

Phoenix -- Grubb & Ellis Co. said that Evergreen Devco has selected Bill Finch, VP, and Alex Gonzalez, senior associate, both of the company’s Retail Group, as the leasing agents of Goodyear Centerpointe, Villago Marketplace, Anthem Marketplace at Merrill Ranch and Sonoran Desert Village.

The properties offer a total of 596,000 sq. ft. of space in the Phoenix metro area.

Foxborough, Mass. -- Houston-based women’s fashion accessories retailer Charming Charlie said it has opened its first Massachusetts location at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass.

The 9,000-sq.-ft. store, located in Patriot Place’s North Marketplace, is Charming Charlie’s entrée into the Northeast.