Department Store

Austin, Texas -- Green Mountain Power announced  that Lord & Taylor is purchasing 100% wind energy for seven of its stores in New Jersey. With this purchase, Lord & Taylor becomes the first commercial customer in New Jersey for Green Mountain, which recently began selling to businesses in the Garden State.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group on Friday said that it has completed its acquisition of Charming Shoppes. The company also announced that it plans to cease operating and close down Charming Shoppes’ Fashion Bug business by early 2013, and is exploring a potential sale of Charming Shoppes’ Figi’s business, which markets food and specialty gift products.

In 2011, Charming Shoppes closed 124 Fashion Bug stores. The chain had previously announced its intention to continue to close certain Fashion Bug stores.

Richmond, Va. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties said Thursday that Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a new store at Southpark Mall in Richmond, Va.

The existing Dillard’s location will be redeveloped into the new 56,000-sq.-ft. Dick’s store as well as a selection of specialty stores and restaurants. Construction is scheduled to begin in October with a grand opening slated for summer 2013.

Montreal -- Aéropostale said Thursday that it is adding to its presence in Canada with the opening of its first store in Quebec, on June 15 at Place du Royaume in Ville de Saguenay.

The chain said that six more stores will open in 2012, including Place Laurier in Québec City, Fairview Pointe Claire in Point-Claire, Promenades St. Bruno in St. Bruno De Montarville, Galleria D'Anjou in Anjou, Mail Champlain in Brossard and Les Galeries de la Capitale in Québec City.

Dallas -- Three weeks after being named the first civilian director/CEO in the nearly 117-year history of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Tom Shull officially took the reins Thursday of the $10 billion military retailer. Shull replaced the Exchange’s last uniformed Commander, Brig. Gen. Fran Hendricks.

New York -- Staples and Starbucks Coffee Co. have joined a voluntary national initiative to reduce energy consumption. Under the Better Buildings Challenge, companies commit to reducing the energy use in their facilities by at least 20% by 2020, and to post their annual power consumption and information on their conservation projects on a U.S. Department of Energy website.

Staples, with 43 million sq. ft., joined the Better Buildings Challenge with a commitment to reduce energy intensity by 25% by 2020 and reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2025.

DALLAS — Three weeks after being named the first civilian director/CEO in the nearly 117-year history of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Tom Shull officially took the reins today of the $10-billion military retailer. Shull replaced the Exchange’s last uniformed Commander, Brig. Gen. Fran Hendricks.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said Thursday that it has opened Merrimack Premium Outlets, an upscale outlet shopping center serving the Greater Boston and Nashua markets.