Convenience Stores

New York City -- Walgreens on Friday reported that its same-store sales rose 3.2% in November. The drugstore operator’s total sales rose 8.6% to $5.83 billion. (Duane Reade stores, acquired in April 2010, contributed 2.8% points to the total sales increase for the month. But those stores are not included in the same-store sales report.)

Meanwhile, Rite Aid Corp. reported that its November same-store sales fell 1.3% due to the introduction of new generic drugs and a decline in prescriptions resulting partly from a milder flu season.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Charlotte, N.C.-based Crosland announced that several new tenants will open at The Shoppes at Oberlin Court mixed-use development in Raleigh, N.C.

Gigi's Cupcakes is slated to open a 1,579-sq.-ft. location in December, Edible Arrangements will open a 1,300-sq.-ft. store, also in December, and Oberlin Nails & Spa has opened a 1,198-sq.-ft. salon.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. and International Paper, with Mississippi River Pulp, LLC, have completed a six-week pilot project that -- for the first time -- proved Starbucks used paper cups can be recycled into new paper cups. This advancement brings Starbucks one step closer to its goal of ensuring 100% of its cups are reusable or recyclable by 2015.

Philadelphia -- Centro Properties Group announced Tuesday that Wine & Spirits has opened a 6,800-sq.-ft. store at Ivyridge, in Philadelphia.

Centro Properties Group, based in New York City, is the owner of Ivyridge.

By Dave Mesko, [email protected]
It’s a shopper’s market. Today, consumers have an array of options when it comes to shopping and no longer have to remain loyal to one store. In order to grow and sustain loyal customers, it’s important that retailers provide a safe environment for shoppers.

Palm Springs, Calif. -- La Jolla, Calif.-based Ramsey Real Estate Group announced that it has acquired a 10,550-sq.-ft. building that is a portion of Palm Springs Marketplace in Palm Springs, Calif.

The acquisition was made by Ramsey Real Estate Group’s The Shops at Palm Springs Marketplace, LP. The firm paid $1.15 million for the property.

Palm Springs Marketplace is a Stater Bros.-anchored community shopping center with a tenant mix of Arco, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, AutoZone, Dollar Tree, Dairy Queen and Kaiser Permanente.

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. rang up better sales and returned to third-quarter profitability but the company warned that shoppers remain cautious.

The Cincinnati-based grocer reported Thursday that net income was $202.2 million, compared with a loss of $875 million a year earlier.

Revenue was up 5.9% to $18.7 billion.