Convenience Stores

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin’ Donuts announced that in 2013 it plans to open 330 to 360 net new restaurants in the United States with growth coming from both new and existing markets, for an increase of 4.5% to 5%. The company also announced that it is expanding to Southern California as part of its long-term goal of having more than 15,000 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the United States alone.  
 

By TJ Person, [email protected]

Using a smartphone for everyday transactions is becoming commonplace, with an estimated 86 million Americans using their smartphone to shop every day. They use it to pay; they use it for specials; and they use it to redeem coupons.  

New York -- Walmart will open a mini-store on the campus of Georgia Tech, according to a report by the Atlanta-Constitution.

The 2,500-sq.-ft. convenience-store styled location, expected to open this spring, will be the retailer’s smallest unit in the country.

The Georgia Tech store will be Walmart’s second campus location. In 2011, the retailer opened a store on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
 

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties said Tuesday it plans to develop a full-service Walgreens drug store in Terrytown, La., on the Westbank of New Orleans.

The proposed Walgreens, which will be a relocation of an existing nearby store, will be located on the site of a former A&P Grocery/Eckerd Drug-anchored shopping center.  

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Former Microsoft executive James S. Pinckney has joined Coinstar as its new corporate leader of strategy and operations, a newly created position.

The move comes a week and a half after the provider of automated retail solutions named J. Scott Di Valerio as its new CEO.

Pinckney has more than 25 years of international general management, strategy and sales experience from Lenovo, Microsoft Corp., The Sabre Group and Hitachi Data Systems Corp.

Denver -- The Zall Co. said Wednesday that Marco’s Pizza will open a new restaurant in Denver, marking the ninth Colorado location for the chain.

The latest unit will join Which Wich, Noodles & Co. and T-Mobile at a retail project located between Gaylord and York Street on E. Colfax.

DULUTH, Ga. — PayPal, an eBay subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with NCR Corp. to integrate NCR's mobile solutions for hospitality and retail with its digital payment technology.

The combination provides restaurants and retailers an easy, powerful way to offer consumers a rich mobile and digital payment experience when buying the goods and services they want.

Mason, Ohio -- Pearle Vision announced its 2013 U.S. expansion plans, which includes the re-licensing of 34 locations in 10 states.

With more than 520 eye care centers in the United States, Pearle Vision is now seeking to grow its national footprint and has identified Florida, Ohio, and Michigan as the first markets for its aggressive re-licensing effort. Specifically in Florida, Pearle Vision is looking to convert locations in Miami, West Palm Beach, Naples, Jacksonville, and Orlando.