Convenience Stores

Minneapolis -- Starbucks, Lowe’s and Target are among the U.S. retail chains donating money to the relief effort that is assisting victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks Coffee Japan will contribute approximately $1.2 million) to aid immediate humanitarian and relief efforts. 

NEW YORK — After Apple began giving consumers the option to receive paperless receipts, it seems that other retailers are following suit, according to published reports.

A first of its kind conference focused on shopper behavior is scheduled for May 12 in Fayetteville, Ark., home of the Center for Retailing Excellence within the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. The conference is called SHOP and features a number of thought leaders in the field of consumer research and shopper insights and was designed to complement the Center’s Emerging Trends in Retailing Conference that is held each fall.

Kansas City, Kan. -- OTB Destination, LLC announced that Chico’s and Soma Intimates outlet concepts will open at Legends Outlets Kansas City in June. Both concepts are new to the region.

Chicago -- Walmart has announced two additional store openings for Chicago, bringing the total number of stores it plans to open in the Windy City by 2013 to six.

The new stores will create close to 1,000 new jobs and nearly 200 construction jobs putting Walmart on the path to meeting the goals outlined in its "Chicago Community Investment Partnership."

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said the stores will bring fresh food and groceries to some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers announced that it has opened three new grocery-anchored shopping centers totaling 263,000 sq. ft. over a 30-day period.

The centers -- Market at Colonnade in Raleigh, N.C., Harris Crossing in Wake Forest, N.C. and NorthGate Village in Greeley, Colo. – represent a combined investment of $41 million.

Market at Colonnade is a 57,503-sq.-ft. neighborhood center anchored by Whole Foods Market and includes 17,503 sq .ft. of additional retail space. Whole Foods Market opened March 16.

Cambridge, Md. -- Tarrytown, N.Y.-based  DLC Management Corp. announced that Advance Auto will open an 8,125-sq.-ft. store at Shoal Creek Mall in Cambridge, Md.

The retailer, which signed a 10-year with DLC, will join a newly opened Walgreens anchor at the 67,248-sq.-ft. shopping center.

Advance Auto is slated to open this fall.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Sam's Club,  the official supplier of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, is sponsoring its first national BBQ tour and is awarding $400,000 in prize money -- a first for competitive barbeque.