Department Store

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. reported Wednesday a net loss of $9.2 million for the third quarter, compared with a profit of $7 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dropped to $120.9 million from $132 million in the prior year. Same-store sales decreased 7%.

Salina, Kan. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management, L.P. and Garrison Investment Group said they have acquired, through their affiliates, Central Mall, in Salina, Kan.

The 486,444-sq.-ft. enclosed regional mall is anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney and Sears, and also features a 10-screen Showplex Cinemas and key major tenants Jo-Ann Fabrics and Old Navy.

The newly acquired property augments the existing 2.8 million sq. ft. currently owned by Coyote Management.

Philadelphia -- Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based WP Realty said it has acquired Mayfair Shopping Center, located in Philadelphia.

Mayfair is a single-story, 115,411-sq.-ft. community shopping center comprised of four buildings, including one bank pad (Wachovia). The center is anchored by national and regional retailers including Shop ‘n Bag, Dollar Tree and Fashion Bug.

Mayfair Shopping Center is currently 86% occupied with 16,339 sq. ft. of available retail space.

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) said that Gertrude Hawk Chocolates has opened a new store at Willow Grove Park, in Willow Grove, Pa.

The 667-sq.-ft. store is located on the Second Level in the Bloomingdale’s Wing.

Willow Grove Park is a three-level, 1.2 million-sq.-ft. regional shopping mall anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Sears and The Cheesecake Factory.

TORONTO - Sears Canada announced that it has appointed Sharon Driscoll as SVP and CFO. Driscoll has held her current position with the company as SVP finance, since November of 2008.

Prior to joining Sears in 2008, Driscoll was employed with Loblaw Companies Limited, holding the position of SVP corporate development, and before that SVP finance national merchandising and SVP finance retail Ontario region. 

Walmart, Target and Best Buy attracted record levels of customers to their websites during November, according to data released this week by the online measurement firm comScore. Retailers have come to expect a surge in traffic to their sites as the holiday approach and during November that proved to be the case and then some.

Atlanta -- Oxford Industries has acquired Sugartown Worldwide, the owner of the upscale women's lifestyle brand Lilly Pulitzer, which sells to better specialty and department stores as well as through its stores and other direct to consumer channels.

Maumelle, Ark. -- Dillard’s announced it will locate an Internet fulfillment center in Maumelle, Ark., to support the continuing growth of its online business. The company has signed an agreement to purchase the former Target distribution facility and will create over 300 new jobs in the Central Arkansas area.

With only a few days to go until Christmas retailers are already positioning themselves for post holiday success by touting promotions to capitalize on gift card redemptions. Target and JCPenney this week announced special incentives that begin the day after Christmas when both plan to open at 7 a.m.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears.com accounted for 6.21% of multichannel Web traffic for the week ended Nov. 27, which included Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to data released from Experian Hitwise.

The data showed Sears.com received 21.1 million visits for the week, just under JCPenney at 21.5 million visits, or 6.34% of total Web traffic. Walmart topped the list at 25.88% of all Web traffic, or 88 million visits, with Target ranking second at 15.26%, or 51.8 million visits.