Convenience Stores

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.  -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced that it has debuted the winning design from its first-ever Design-A-Bag contest in its stores this week. The new reusable bag retails for only 79 cents and has already been a big hit with customers with thousands already sold. The bag's creative design was hand-drawn by Los Angeles resident Josephine Close, who received a year's worth of free groceries for winning the contest.

Durham, N.C. -- Denny’s Corp. has chosen LED lights from Cree as the preferred lighting standard for all its new and remodeled stores across the United States. Cree’s six-inch downlights are being specified in various applications, including dining areas and restrooms.

Atlanta -- RedPrairie Corp., a productivity solutions provider, announced that it has finalized the acquisition of SofTechnics, a leading provider of integrated retail enterprise solutions that has been serving customers for more than 20 years.     

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark Corp. said Tuesday it is resuming its search for a new president of its pharmacy operations in view of Wal-Mart Stores’ lawsuit to block its previous choice.

An announcement last week that Target plans to open 21 stores in the coming fiscal year was interesting on a number of levels.

For starters, the disclosure was rather uncharacteristic for a company that in years past would publicly release its stores openings a week or two in advance of the actual openings. In this case, the company shared its full list of openings for the entire year two weeks before its new fiscal year even begins.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart's philanthropic arm announced a $2 million donation to help food banks save money on energy bills.

This funding, the Walmart Foundation said, will help 16 food banks "go green," by becoming more energy efficient through lighting, refrigeration or heating and air conditioning equipment upgrades.

This initiative is a part of Walmart's commitment to fighting hunger. In May, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $2 billion cash and in-kind commitment through the end of 2015, including:

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Office Depot announced that will once again provide customers with free copies, up to 25 single-sided pages, of 2010 tax returns.

Through April 15, 2011, customers will be able to participate in this special offer by visiting the Copy and Print Depot in any one of the more than 1,100 Office Depot retail store locations nationwide.

Port Washington, N.Y. -- Cedar Shopping Centers said Tuesday it has closed on the acquisition of Colonial Commons in Lower Paxton Township, Pa. The property was purchased for approximately $49.1 million from affiliates of Centro Properties Group.

The 487,000-sq.-ft. shopping center covers approximately 37 acres, is 93% leased and is anchored by Giant Food Stores. Other tenants include Dick's Sporting Goods, L.A. Fitness, Ross Dress For Less, Marshalls, JoAnn Fabrics and David's Furniture.

Somerdale, N.J. -- Purchase, N.Y.-based National Realty & Development Corp. said that GameStop, Great Clips and Go Wireless have opened at the newly renovated CooperTowne Center.

Reopened in October 2010, CooperTowne Center is a 385,000-sq.-ft. Greyfields Redevelopment that revitalized the former Lions Head Plaza in Somerdale, N.J. The shopping center is anchored by Walmart Supercenter, a Cinemark 16-screen theater, and a LA Fitness.

Savannah, Ga. -- Centro Properties Group said that Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt has opened a 1,215-sq.-ft. store at Eisenhower Square.

The shopping center, located in Savannah, Ga., is owned by New York City-based Centro Properties Group.