Convenience Stores

MEMPHIS — Fred's on Thursday reported a 3% increase in sales for the five weeks ended April 2, reaching $188.8 million.

Comparable-store sales for the month rose 0.7%, versus an increase of 3.6% in the same period last year.

New York City -- Shoppers surprised analysts in March by spending stronger than expected during the month, despite rising gas prices, cooler-than-normal temperatures and a late Easter. The Thomson Reuters Same-Store Sales Index rose 1.7% in March, beating estimates, which called for a decrease of 0.7%.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and WESTBOROUGH, Mass. -- The shifting of Easter to April this year impacted the warehouse club sector last month, as both Costco and BJ’s reported March comps that were negatively impacted by the calendar change. Without the benefit of Easter sales, both companies still managed to turn out respectable comps.

MONTREAL – U.S. discount-store operators should keep an eye on their Northern neighbors, as Canadian dollar stores continue to thrive. Anticipating their growth potential, Virginia-based Dollar Tree acquired Canada’s Dollar Giant Store in November 2010, adding 86 more stores to its repertoire and marking its first expansion outside of the United States.

HOUSTON -- Cardtronics, the world's largest retail ATM owner, announced that Lucia Romanello Crater has joined Cardtronics as the company's new VP U.S. merchant sales. 

Mendota Heights, Minn. -- St. Paul, Minn.-based Paster Enterprises announced that the new Walgreens at Mendota Plaza in Mendota Heights, Minn., is officially open.  

The 14,820-sq.-ft. Walgreens is a new prototype featuring, in addition to exterior design enhancements, improved aisle graphics, more accessible shelving, polished concrete floors and an updated photo finishing area.

Westchester, Ill. -- Tri-Land Properties announced that Dr. Holly Xu, Fashionista Exchange, Jimmy John’s, Lee Lee Nails, Party Time Liquor and Pride Cleaners have joined the company’s projects throughout Indiana and Kansas City.

Lee Lee Nails opened a 1,200-sq.-ft. salon at Century Plaza, a 300,592-sq.-ft. community center in Merrillville, Ind.

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s will open a store Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, in spring 2012. The 50,000-sq.-ft. store will be Cabela’s third store in Canada, joining locations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a former S.I.R. Warehouse Sports Store acquired and converted in 2008, and Edmonton, Alberta, to open late this summer.