Department Store

Puyallup, Wash. — WiggleWorks Kids has leased a 4,500-sq.-ft. space for an indoor playground and birthday party center in the South Hill Mall in Puyallup, Wash. WiggleWorks will open the first week in December. It will be WiggleWorks second playground. The first is in Bellevue, Wash.

In addition to the playground, the WiggleWorks offers a semi-private part room equipped with a small kitchen for birthday parties, community gatherings and family gatherings.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores said it plans on hiring more than 50,000 associates nationwide this holiday season to support seasonal business in stores and growth on its online platform.

Kohl’s anticipates hiring an average of 40 associates per store to provide shoppers with excellent customer service throughout the holiday season at its 1,158 stores in 49 states.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 stockholders have approved the previously announced merger agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire the shares of Rue21 for $42 per share in cash. Approximately 99.7% of the shares voted at today’s special stockholder meeting voted in favor of the agreement.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. — J.Crew Factory, which offers still fashionable apparel from past J.Crew collections, plans to open a 6,100-sq.-ft. store in The Plaza Shops at Plymouth Meeting Mall this fall.

Anchored by Macy’s and Boscov’s, Plymouth Meeting Mall offers more than 100 specialty retailers. Whole Foods Market and Café anchors The Plaza Shops extension of the mall. Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust www.preit.com owns, manages and leases the property.

Malibu, Calif. — Calypso St. Barth will open its fifth Southern California store on Oct. 18, at the Malibu Country Mart. Existing SoCal stores are in West Hollywood, Brentwood, Century City and Montecito.

Malibu Country Mart encompasses six acres and leases to 68 tenants offer high-end retail, dining and services.

New York -- Retail is the No. 1 category utilizing location-powered advertising, with big box, consumer electronics and department store retailers being the most frequent users, according to a new report by location-based mobile advertising firm Verve Mobile.

The "State of the Market: Location Powered Mobile Advertising, Deep Dive on Retail" study reveals that geo-fencing, which includes geo-conquesting, is the most utilized location targeting strategy deployed by retailers.  I

In other findings:

New York -- Macy’s announced that it is an exclusive launch partner for Apple’s new iAd-supported streaming radio service, iTunes Radio. In line with the retailer’s omnichannel strategy, Macy’s said the new service will allow it to reach a broad cross-section of consumers with compelling digital, visual and audio engagement experiences on their iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Mac or PC.

Flemington, N.J. — HomeGoods has signed a long-term lease with The Shoppes at Flemington in Flemington, N.J., and is open and operating in a 22,000-sq.-ft. building that came as part of the deal.

Levin Management manages and markets the center for the owner, Garrison Investment Group. Welco Realty represented HomeGoods.

Levin also served as the construction manager for the development of the new retail space and managed the land development approvals.