Convenience Stores

New York City -- Chain Store Age invites design firms, architects, retailers and suppliers to submit entries for its 30th annual Retail Store of the Year Design Competition. Eligible projects are those completed between November 2010 and December 2, 2011. Deadline for submission is December 20, 2011. Extensions are available.

Twenty-one competition categories are featured, ranging from supermarkets and discount/mass merchants to specialty stores and pop-up stores.

Bethesda, Md. -- Streetsense announced it is bringing a new Japanese sushi restaurant, Passion Fin, to The Shops at Sumner Place, in Bethesda, Md. The 2,959-sq.-ft. restaurant is scheduled to open in early 2012.

The Shops at Sumner Place is a Safeway-anchored retail center adjacent to the 28-acre Sumner Village condominium community. Other stores within the center include CVS Pharmacy, Starbucks, Bethesda Market, Praline French Bakery and Restaurant, Chico’s, a fitness center, and a variety of other stores and services.

New York City -- The Feil Organization announced a lease has been signed with Morton Williams for a gourmet specialty food store at 140 West 57th Street in Manhattan.

Morton Williams will occupy three levels totaling 14,984 sq. ft. at the Landmark office building. The New York-based grocer operates 12 stores in New York City, Westchester and New Jersey. The 57th Street location will be the company's thirteenth store.

Keller, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Bear Creek Running Co. will open a new store at Keller Town Center, located in Keller, Texas.

The new 1,200-sq.-ft. store is slated to open Jan. 2012.

Keller Town Center is a 114,937-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by a 63,631-sq.-ft. Tom Thumb alongside national retailers such as Starbucks, Pizza Hut and RadioShack.

New York City -- Brixmor Property Group announced two retailers will join Arapahoe Crossings, located Aurora, Colo., a suburb of Denver.  

Omaha-based department store retailer Gordmans is slated to open during fall 2012 with a 55,000-sq.-ft. store.  

In early 2012, Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet will open a 7,000-sq.-ft. store adjacent to King Soopers grocery store.  

Walmart faces increased competition from dollar stores, as their value proposition still resonates with cash-strapped consumers. Dollar General, for example reported that net income for its third quarter was $171 million, 50 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $128 million, or diluted EPS of 37 cents, in the third of fiscal 2010. The company reported that same-store sales increased 6.3% for the quarter.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Ikea said Thursday it has officially plugged-in four Blink Pedestal electric vehicle charging stations at its Costa Mesa, Calif., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality.

The initiative represents the fourth such project for IKEA in the United States.  Installation also is planned at five other IKEA stores in the Western U.S. 

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced that it will now offer its MVP customers copies of Southern Living magazine guide for the holidays.