Convenience Stores

Old Bridge, N.J. — Max Challenge Franchising, a fitness center franchisor, has appointed R.J. Brunelli & Co. as its exclusive national tenant representative.

Max Challenge studios currently operate throughout much of New Jersey, Staten Island, New York, and metropolitan Sacramento, California.

The company is seeking 2,000 to 3,000-sq.-ft. locations in the Hoboken/Edgewater, Montclair, Bergen County and Cherry Hill markets in New Jersey.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Keep it simple — that’s secret to Dollar General's success Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO of the 75-year-old company said at its shareholders annual meeting.

"Simple neighborhood stores, simple, frequently-needed items and everyday low prices," he said. "For 75 years, [Dollar General has focused] on helping low- and middle-income families save money and save time by offering quality, basic merchandise at affordable prices in convenient, small-box neighborhood stores."

South Plainfield, N.J. — Advance Auto Parts has signed an 11,382-sq.-ft. lease at Oak Park Commons in South Plainfield, New Jersey, bringing the center’s occupancy rate up to 95%. Charter Realty & Development co-brokered the transaction with NJ Commercial Realty.

The auto parts retailer will be joining Dollar Tree, A&P, McDonalds, CVS, Subway, GNC, Wells Fargo, Goodyear, RadioShack, and H & R Block.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced the promotion of Shelley Broader, currently president and CEO of Walmart Canada, to executive VP, president and CEO of Walmart EMEA, effective June 1. In her new role, she will lead Walmart's retail operations and oversee business development in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada and will report directly to David Cheesewright, president and CEO, Walmart International.

Washington, D.C. — The Fairfax, Virginia, City Council has approved a rezoning application for Combined Properties’ Fairfax Circle Plaza. The project aims to redevelop the current strip retail center and replace it with a mixed-use development with up to 400 new apartments and 88,000 sq. ft. of retail including a grocery store.

The project is located at the intersection of two major routes just over a half mile from the Vienna, Virginia, Metro station.

San Bernardino, California -- Plans are well underway to open two new state-of-the-art "Blue Ribbon" Stater Bros. Supermarkets in California, with one in Covina (Los Angeles County) and the other in Menifee (Riverside County).  

Fred’s wants to be what it calls “the convenient small box store of choice” and to achieve that goal, it has embarked on a two-pronged strategy focused on general merchandise and pharmacy.

Solid sales growth at Costco during the second quarter and a 6% same store sales increase at U.S. clubs did not translate into strong profits for the warehouse club operator whose earnings fell shy of analysts’ estimates.