Convenience Stores

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin’ Brands Group is giving its Dunkin’ Donuts stores a big makeover. The chain has been rolling out a “café-style” store redesign that includes a new, earth-toned palette, to make its locations resemble those of rival Starbucks, according to Bloomberg.

Dunkin’ Donuts, which plans to double its current store total to 15,000, is adding features such as more comfortable seating and music to increase its afternoon customer traffic.

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. retailers added almost 28,000 new jobs in May, according to statistics from the Department of Labor. This followed 20,000 new retail hires in April.

Restaurants hired another 38,000 people last month.

New retail and restaurant hires helped drive the addition of 175,000 total new jobs to the U.S. economy in May.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree has promoted Gary Philbin to president and COO. He has served as COO since 2007. Bob Sasser continues to lead the company as its CEO.

INDIANAPOLIS — Kroger central division employees working at Kroger stores in the Indianapolis area have ratified a new four-year labor agreement with UFCW Local 700.

ST. LOUIS — Five Below now carries select Cutex products at its retail stores for less than $5.

Nail polish remover products include the Advanced Revival One-Step Remover Pads, Advanced Revival Liquid Nail Polish Remover, the Cutex Corrector Pen and Cutex Regular Instant Nail Polish Remover Jar.

NEW YORK — Target has set its sights on consumers who want organic, natural products, with a new organic and natural store brand called Simply Balanced, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Target told the AP that it will begin to roll out drinks and snacks like corn chips on Sunday, June 9. According to the report, the line is an outgrowth of similar products within its existing Archer Farms store brand, which is positioned as a premium alternative to national name brands.

Washington, D.C. -- Los Angeles, New York and Chicago top the list of the cities with the highest organized retail crime activity, with Miami and Atanta rounding out the top five, according to a study by the National Retail Federation.

The NRF’s ninth annual Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Survey found that while organized crime has inched down slightly, it remains widespread. Over 90% (93.5%) of retailers said they had been a victim of organized retail crime during the past year, down from 96% the prior year.

Dallas -- CBRE’s Private Capital Group in Dallas has arranged the sale of Hebron Heights Shopping Center in Carrollton, Texas, for an undisclosed amount. The 59,356-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center occupies a 10-plus acre site at the corner of Hebron Parkway and Old Denton Road in northwest Dallas.

Greenwich, Conn. -- Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. has acquired two retail properties on Putnam Avenue (US Route 1) in Greenwich, Conn., for $18 million.

West Putnam Plaza is a 9,300-sq.-ft. retail strip center shadow-anchored by a Stop & Shop supermarket. National tenants include Cosi and JP Morgan Chase Bank. A wine retailer, day spa and women’s fitness studio round out the tenant list.

The second property is Cos Cob Plaza, a 15,000-sq.-ft. retail and office center. Tenants include Jos. A. Bank.

Newark, N.J. -- Tucker Development Corp. has signed a deal with Wakefern Food Corp. retail cooperative to bring a 67,000-sq.-ft. ShopRite grocery store to Springfield Avenue Marketplace in Newark, N.J.

Wakefern is the merchandising and distribution arm for ShopRite stores.

The new ShopRite will anchor the 125,000-sq.-ft. center set to break ground this fall. When complete, the center will serve approximately 280,000 Newark residents, 180,000 employees and 60,000 college students and faculty.