Convenience Stores

Union, N.Y. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has leased 29,423 sq. ft. at the River Plaza shopping center in Union, N.Y.

The Mid-Atlantic’s largest retailer of closeout, surplus and salvage merchandise, Ollie’s will open at the 177,871-sq.-ft., Home-Depot-anchored property in September of this year – filling a key anchor vacancy.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said McAlister’s Deli has leased restaurant space at Cochran Commons in Charlotte, N.C.

McAlister’s Deli has leased 3,600 sq. ft. and is slated to open this summer.

Cochran Commons is a 66,020-sq.-ft. Harris Teeter-anchored shopping center that also features Great Clips, Caribou Coffee and Walgreens.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Thursday praised Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for signing the e-Fairness legislation, which addresses the long-standing inequity in the retail sales industry between brick-and-mortar retailers and their online-only counterparts.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has announced the availability of 27 new exclusive California wines. The new wines, which the company said are sourced from some of the finest vineyards in California's premium wine growing regions, are broken into seven new lines and retail from $3.99 to $19.99.

New York — Walmart will next week start building its first smaller-format Express stores, according to building permits obtained by Bloomberg News.

The chain will begin construction March 16 on a 14,400-sq.-ft. store in Gentry, Ark., which is about 20 miles from the company’s Bentonville headquarters, according to the permits.

AisleBuyer, the mobile self-checkout and commerce solutions provider, announced the hiring of three new VPs. Jeremy Laughlin is the name most likely familiar to those in the retail industry as he spent time with Best Buy and Staples and was most recently with NCR where he oversaw implementation of a $1.5 million pilot self checkout pilot program with a Fortune 100 retailer. 

New York City -- Wakefern Food Corp., parent of the ShopRite supermarket chain, plans to introduce its PriceRite discount format in Maryland, opening a 37,000-sq.-ft. store in Woodlawn on March 13.

Wakefern operates 45 corporate PriceRite locations, which feature both private-label and national brands in a value format.

WASHINGTON -- With Easter falling in late April this year, retailers are without a major holiday to boost March sales, and many are expecting weaker sales this month. However, thanks to St. Patrick's Day, which falls on March 17, retailers have the help of this micro-holiday.