Department Store

Queens, N.Y. -- Onex Real Estate Partners announced its latest lease deal for The Shops at Sky View Center, as fashion boutique Limited Editions For Her will open a 4,000-sq.-ft. store at the Flushing, Queens center.

The store will be located across from Old Navy on Level D and is slated to open in June. “Obtaining a retail space at The Shops at SkyView Center is the perfect vehicle for Limited Editions For Her to continue its New York expansion and broaden its customer base,” said Brad Guth, VP retail for Limited Editions For Her.

Queens, N.Y. -- South Korean skin care brand Amore has opened a 1,600-sq.-ft. store at The Shops at SkyView Center. The new store, which grand-opened on May 24, is located on Level B and joins Restoration Hardware Outlet, Target, Carter’s, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Marshall’s, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy, among others.

New York -- Delia’s reported Thursday that its loss more than doubled year-over-year, as the multichannel retailer lost $9.2 million in the quarter ended May 4, compared with a loss of $4.3 million last year.

Revenue slid 15% to $35 million, and same-store sales fell 7.1%. Amid the disappointing results, the company has appointed Tracy Gardner as CEO, effective June 5, moving over from his current position as COO.

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.

Fort Myers, Fla. – Chico's reported a lower-than-expected profit of $51.1 million for the first quarter, excluding non-recurring acquisition and integration costs related to its Boston Proper acquisition, versus a profit of $54 million in year-ago period.

Sales rose 3% to $670.7 million, up 3% from $650.8 million last year. Chico’s, which operates its namesake stores, as well as the Soma Intimates and White House | Black Market chains, attributed much of this boost to the opening of 114 net new stores in the past year.

Toronto -- Loft, a division of Ann Inc., is expanding in Canada, with four new stores by the end of fall 2013.

Loft entered Canada last November, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. The chain will open a store in Toronto Eaton Centrer, Toronto, in late May, followed by additional units at Lime Ridge Mall in Hamilton in July, Markville Shopping Centre in Markham in August and Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga in October.