Department Store

CINCINNATI — Macy’s plans to open its second store in Puerto Rico in fall 2015.

The two-level, 150,000-sq.-ft. store will be located in the Plaza Del Caribe mall in Ponce. Construction is slated to begin next year and the store is expected to employ 275 associates.

New York -- Macy’s on Friday announced the second phase of the four-year renovation of its Herald Square flagship in New York City. 

The project will include the completion of the main, mezzanine and second floors of the store bridging both the Broadway and Seventh Ave. buildings by holiday 2013. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express overcame the spring chill and a difficult retail environment, reporting net sales of $508 million for the first quarter ended May 4, a 3% increase from $496 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Comparable sales were flat following a 4% comparable sales increase in last year's first quarter. This includes e-commerce sales, which increased 48% to $71 million. In last year's first quarter, e-commerce sales grew 28% to $48 million.

New York -- MPI has reported a significant increase in leasing volume within its core retail portfolio during the first four months of 2013 vs. the same period last year.

As of May 1, MPI has executed 23 new lease deals, many with new to the market tenants, representing a total of 113,900 sq. ft. throughout its national retail portfolio.  

On a year-over-year basis, the company has seen the number of new leases grow by 28%.
 

Albany, Ore. -- Vintage Real Estate said that it has signed a lease with Hobby Lobby for a 61,000-sq.-ft. store at the Heritage Mall, marking the arts-and-crafts retailer’s first location in Oregon.

Hobby Lobby will be located in a former Gottschalks space.  It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. “Our ability to quickly fill this long-vacant space is a major step in the execution of our renovation and repositioning plans for Heritage Mall,” said general manager Betsy Penson.

Memphis -- Fred's Inc. said Thursday that profit for the quarter ended May 4 rose 9% to $11.4 million, from $10.5 million last year. Results topped Wall Street forecasts.

Revenue edged up to $501.5 million from $500.5 million, beating analysts’ estimated $499.5 million in revenue. Same-store sales dipped 1.3%.

CHICAGO — Cause Marketing Forum on Wednesday named America’s Checkout Charity Champions, a first-of-its-kind study ranking the largest consumer checkout donations in the United States last year.

Minneapolis -- Target said it will introduce its Beauty Concierge program to 27 stores in Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Baltimore on June 28. The program calls for an on-staff “Beauty Concierge” – a trained, brand-agnostic beauty advisor – who provides personal-care advice and beauty tips in the Target beauty aisle.