Convenience Stores

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is recruiting franchisees in Minnesota with an emphasis on Minneapolis and Mankato. Seven freestanding Dunkin' Donuts locations are planned to open during the next several years in the greater Duluth area.

To help fuel growth in Minnesota, special development incentives are available, which include reduced royalty fees for three years and up to $10,000 in local store marketing for stores that meet certain goals.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. will acquire the remaining shares of its Japanese joint venture, Starbucks Coffee Japan, for $913 million to accelerate growth across multiple channels in the country, including the introduction of new concepts such as Teavana. The acquisition is the largest to date made by Starbucks. Japan is the company’s second-largest market in store sales after the United States.

“Full ownership in this market is the right approach for the future," said Troy Alstead, COO, Starbucks, in a conference call with analysts.

Peoria, Ariz. -- CBRE has completed the sale of Peoria Marketplace, a 25,481-sq.-ft. multi-tenant shopping center in Peoria, Arizona. The grocery shadow-anchored retail property was sold for $5.1 million.

The seller was G and T Retail Properties, LLC of Phoenix, and the buyer was Westlake Village, California-based Barstow Shopping Centers, LLC.

The property, which was 91% occupied at time of sale, features national tenants like Farmers Insurance, H&R Block, Panda Express, Little Caesar’s Pizza and Subway.

By Francesca Nicasio, Retail Expert, Vend

Implementing rewards programs is a common best practice in retail for a host of reasons. These programs can increase sales, encourage repeat purchases, and can provide a wealth of data and insights into the shopping behaviors of customers.

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack Corp. has reportedly so far been unsuccessful in its efforts to convince an unidentified ‘major vendor’ to modify a commercial agreement in a way that could benefit a financial restructuring. According to the Wall Street Journal, RadioShack still has not identified the vendor or exactly what terms it wants to restructure, but has been negotiating with wireless carriers including AT&T and Sprint to ease the terms under which the retailer is allowed to resell equipment.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Arizona on Oct. 11. The store is located in the Maryvale Plaza Shopping Center in Phoenix. This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

Together, Ross Dress for Less and DD’s Discounts currently operate more than 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
 

Raleigh, N.C. -- Northwood Ravin has announced six new service retailers and restaurants for Bradford, the multi-use development in the northeast corner of Davis and High House Roads adjacent to the desirable Preston neighborhood of Cary, North Carolina.

Shop24 gives new meaning to the phrase “small format” and recently named a new vp of marketing and business development to help grow its footprint.