Convenience Stores

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Footlocker has opened at Hancock Center, located in Austin, Texas. The retailer opened a 2,946-sq.-ft. store, and will be joined by Family Chiropractic, which is slated to open an 1,100-sq.-ft. center in November.

The 410,437-sq.-ft. neighborhood center is anchored by a 90,217-sq.-ft. H-E-B alongside national retailers such as Petco, Quiznos and 24 Hour Fitness.
 

New York City -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Panera Bread’s 35 Maryland locations are on EPA's list of top green power purchasers among retailers.
 
The company’s green power purchase of more than 11 million kilowatt hours for its 35 Maryland bakery-cafes is equivalent to avoiding the yearly carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 1,400 passenger vehicles or from more than 800 average American homes’ electricity use.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. reported Thursday that same-store sales increased 2.9% in October, boosted by a 3.6% surge in pharmacy same-store sales. Front-end same-store sales edged up 1.3%.

Total drugstore sales for the four-week period increased 2.8% to $1.96 billion compared to $1.91 billion for the same period last year.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 24 rose to $21.5 million, compared with $20 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dipped 2.1% to $1.77 billion from $1.81 billion, barely meeting Wall Street’s expected $1.807 billion. Same-store sales dropped 4.3%.

“We remain focused on driving operational efficiencies as we position the company for long-term growth," said Ravi Saligram, president and CEO, OfficeMax.

Beijing -- Local Chinese newspaper the People’s Daily reported Thursday that, just two days after re-opening all 13 stores in Chongqing following a forced two-week closure for mislabeling regular pork as organic, the retailer has been called out for selling expired coffee in one of its Chongqing stores.

Wal-Mart’s Beijing-based spokeswoman Christina Lee said the retailer is currently investigating the case.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack's transition from offering T-Mobile products and services to offering those of Verizon Wireless took a toll on the company's third quarter profits, though overall sales managed to increase.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said it welcomed a proposal unveiled by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., to reform the nation’s corporate tax structure.

New York City -- Starbucks Coffee Co. celebrated the opening of its 500th location in China. The store is located at the international departure hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3.

“The opening of our 500th store in China is a significant milestone in our ambitious growth plans to serve our customers through 1,500 stores by 2015,” said Belinda Wong, president, Starbucks China.
 

New York City -- The U.S. retail industry will perform in line with sluggish U.S. GDP growth through 2012 as persistent unemployment, stock market volatility and economic gloom weigh on consumer confidence and spending, according to a new report by Moody's Investors Service.
 

San Jose, Calif. -- Cellfire has expanded its Digital Offer Network by partnering with D’Agostino, Marsh and Harps grocery stores, providing digital coupons to a new geographic set of customers, including Manhattan.

Cellfire coupons will be accessible for all 17 D’Agostino stores in New York, 97 Marsh-affiliated stores in Indiana and Ohio, and 64 Harps stores throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.