Convenience Stores

The new Hamilton Crossings shopping center in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, will benefit from an innovative new traffic control system that manages signal timing based on continuously monitored traffic volumes.   The system allows traffic approaching the center from a major artery to the mall “largely unstopped” by lights, township engineer Alan Fornwalt told Allentown’s Morning Call.  

Petco appointed retail veteran John Zavada as senior VP and CIO.   In his new position, Zavada will lead Petco's information technology strategies, teams and projects, including the company's business process optimization and enterprise program management office.    Prior to joining Petco, Zavada served as senior VP and CIO at Restoration Hardware. He also held CIO positions at Guitar Center, Big Lots, Limited Inc., and Victoria's Secret Stores.  

Petco has named William Engen senior VP of retail market expansion, a newly created role dedicated to optimizing the company’s investments in store growth.    Engen, who joins Petco from Wingstop Restaurants, where he served as COO, will be in charge of real estate, construction, and store design. He previously served in senior operations roles at 7-Eleven and Circuit City.  

Walmart Canada is extending its ban on accepting Visa credit cards.   The discounter said it will stop accepting Visa credit cards at all 16 of its stores in Canada’s Manitoba province starting on Oct. 24.   

Smithfield Properties has sold five properties in Chicago to the Acadia Realty Trust for $150 million, reported the deal’s broker, Mid-America Real Estate Corp.   The properties were:   • North Kingsbury Center on the corner of North Avenue and North Kingsbury Street, with tenants including Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports, Blick Art Materials, and Modani Furniture.  

Amazon on Thursday announced that its Prime Now ultra-fast delivery service has added its first beauty store.    Prime members in Chicago can now order  beauty and personal care products from Merz Apothecary, a 100-years plus Chicago retail institution, and have the items delivered to their door in as little as one hour.  

Brookshire Grocery Co. is expanding its portfolio with a new, smaller-store store format.

The chain held three ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Sept. 13, completing the openings of 25 new Spring Market stores in Texas. The stores are located on former Walmart Express sites, which Brookshire acquired in July.

The stores bring Brookshire’s total store count to 177.

Weiss Markets is expanding its store portfolio.

The retailer plans to convert 38 Food Lion supermarket locations to Weis Markets stores. Weiss Markets has completed the purchase of 38 Food Lion stores and plans to convert the locations to the Weiss banner by the end of October. The acquired stores are located in the states of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.