Convenience Stores

Dallas — The Retail Connection and Oakridge Investments have announced a partnership to build the Crossroads at Terrell, a regional power center at the intersection of I-20 and U.S. Highway 80 in Terrell, Texas. The 225,000-sq.-ft. Phase I of the development will break ground late next year.

Kroger is expanding its presence in one of the nation’s most competitive retail markets.

The grocery retailer plans to open five new Marketplace stores and expand the size of three existing locations in North Texas in the next two years — a capital investment of $150 million. The company also plans to open multiple fuel centers and remodel existing properties. The growth initiative will create more than 1,700 full- and part-time career opportunities that offer competitive pay, healthcare plans, retirement options, product discounts and other incentives.

New York – Retailers across a variety of verticals reported improved same-store sales during October 2013, compared to the same month in the previous year. Even embattled department store retailer J.C. Penney saw its same-store sales grow for the first time since December 2011, and specialty and apparel retail conglomerate L Brands and discount club retailer PriceSmart reported particularly impressive same-store sales results.

New York – The average consumer will spend $825 on holiday purchases in 2013, a 5% drop from last year. According to the new Brand Keys annual holiday survey, only 19% of shoppers surveyed indicated that they started shopping for the holidays in October, 5% fewer than 2012.

Beverly Hills, Calif. — Quantum Capital Partners, a real estate finance and advisory firm, has arranged two new loans to refinance two retail properties in Las Vegas for a private investor.

A $1.04 million loan will refinance the 12,000-sq.-ft. El Mercado, an L-shaped retail center in east Las Vegas, and a $1.19 million loan will refinance Wigwam, a 10,300-sq.-ft. strip center about four miles south of the Las Vegas Strip.

City of Commerce, Calif. – 99 Cents Only Stores is opening a new store in Ladera Heights, Calif., on Nov. 14. The new store is approximately 19,000 sq. ft. and will feature a perishable food department, including produce, dairy and frozen foods.

99 Cents Only Stores currently operates 334 extreme value retail stores consisting of 240 stores in California, 44 in Texas, 33 in Arizona, and 17 in Nevada.

Granite Gold’s nationwide distribution expanded with the addition of Shaw’s Supermarkets in the Northeast and Stater Bros. Markets in Southern California.

Shaw’s Supermarkets, which has more than 120 stores throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, now carries Granite Gold Daily Cleaner and Granite Gold Polish.

Walmart talks a lot about the opportunities it provides to employees and every so often examples pop up that puts things in perspective.

Boise, Idaho — WinCo Foods has announced that it will open two new discount supermarkets on November 7. The stores are located in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho and in Norco, Calif. and span 75,000 sq. ft. and 65,000 sq. ft. respectively.

Grand Rapids, Mich. - Meijer will open a supercenter in Danville, Ill., on Nov. 7, marking its final of six new stores the retailer has opened this year in the Midwest. The 190,000-sq.-ft. store has created 300 new jobs and provides local residents a 24-hour shopping option.