Convenience Stores

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is making a big expansion effort in the mid-Atlantic area.

The coffee chain has signed multi-unit store development agreements with seven franchise groups to develop 51 new restaurants in Virginia and West Virginia during the next several years.

The seven franchise groups and their development plans include:

Paragould, Ark. – Even smaller retailer still have to handle big issues relating to effectively managing workforce management processes. That’s why small-to-mid-sized supermarket chains such as Paragould, Arkansas-based Hays Supermarkets and Brockton, Massachusetts-based Vicente’s Tropical Grocery are relying on the cloud-based Kronos Workforce Ready Suite.

Photo: Central Valley Marketplace, Ceres, California

If you’ve been reading this column over the last four years, let me first say, “thank you!” It’s gratifying to think that my musings about retail and retail real estate have kept your attention and interest. In this, my 100th and final (except for an occasional contribution) Retail Rap, I wanted to tackle the big question: What’s next? Where is the retail industry — particularly brick-and-mortar — headed in the months and years ahead?

Dallas -- X Team International announced that partner Venture Commercial Real Estate completed three retail anchor leases for landlords and tenants, totaling 110,000 sq. ft. across Texas.

Walmart signed a ground lease to build a 42,000-sq.-ft. Walmart Neighborhood Market store at the site of a former Brookshire Brothers at 1030 N. University Drive in Nacogdoches.

Hobby Lobby signed a lease to open a 50,200-sq.-ft. store at 2200 S. Loop 256 in Palestine.

Seattle – Although coffee prices are on the wane, Starbucks Corp. is facing rising wage and rent expenses. The retailer is passing at least some of those costs along to the consumer with higher prices on some beverages.

Auburn, Ala. -- Merchants Retail Partners recently led the acquisition of Flint’s Crossing in Auburn, Alabama, on behalf of its related investment partner. The 100,000-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by gourmet grocer EarthFare and Panera Bread.

Dallas – Convenience store purchases are often small, inexpensive items most consumers would prefer to pay cash for. 7-Eleven Inc. is making sure customers always have access to cash through an agreement with Financial Consulting & Trading International Inc. (FCTI) to become its new ATM provider.

FCTI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Bank an ATM provider for all 7-Eleven stores in Japan. 7-Eleven's U.S. company-operated and franchised stores are expected to transition to FCTI's ATM program in 2017.