Department Store

Mobile, Ala. -- Centro Properties Group announced that Marshalls has opened a 26,000-sq.-ft. store at Springdale Mall, located in Mobile, Ala.

New York City-based Centro Properties Group is the owner of Springdale Mall.

Skokie, Ill. -- The Westfield Group announced that its Westfield Old Orchard shopping center in Skokie, Ill., will change dramatically with the addition of a culinary-focused dining and green food shopping venue slated to open in summer 2011.

The new venue replaces the former food court, which closed on Sept. 1 to make way for the new development.

Stamford, Conn. -- Rhys Commercial announced that The Children’s Place has retained it to handle the retailer’s expansion across Connecticut.

According to RHYS, which is actively seeking out locations in densely populated and well-trafficked markets throughout the state, The Children’s Place generally requires between 4,000 and 4,500 sq. ft. of space. The retailer is looking to open new stores in potential infill markets.

New York  City -- Fast-fashion retailer H&M will open its largest store to date on Saturday, at the Forum Shops at Caesars, on the Las Vegas Strip.

The three-level, 55,000-sq.-ft. store, which will sell women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, is located in a building that formerly housed FAO Schwarz. The toy store, which closed last January, had occupied the space, along with its iconic Trojan horse, since 1997.

New York City -- Neiman Marcus plans to increase spending on technology to align its in-store and e-commerce businesses, the Financial Times reported.

Sales at Neiman’s e-commerce businesses increased 16.9% during the quarter ending Oct. 31, compared with a year ago.

Karen Katz, who took over the reins as chief executive from Burt Tansky in October, said Neiman planned to “ramp up how we connect” with customers who are increasingly equipped with smartphones and tablets, the report said.
 

Somerset, N.J. -- Philips Lighting Wednesday announced that Macy's has selected its custom-designed Philips EnduraLED solid-state LED lamp as part of the nationwide program to retrofit 117,000 halogen-based accent lighting in 86 of its U.S. stores.

Chicago -- Year-over-year GAFO retail sales increased a slight 2.3% or the week ending Dec. 4, according to ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE), while the company’s Retail Traffic Index (SRTI) reported foot traffic remained flat for the same period.

Seattle -- Callison has teamed with parent companies Abercrombie & Fitch and Urban Outfitters to internationally expand the Hollister Co./Gilly Hicks and Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie brands, respectively.

Abercrombie & Fitch has retained Callison as its architect of record to implement its expansion for Hollister in the United Kingdom and Germany. A total of five stores have opened under Callison’s direction with approximately 10 more locations planned.

Phoenix -- Vestar Development Co. and Rockwood Capital on Tuesday acquired Tempe Marketplace for $280 million by buying out an original partner. In conjunction with the closing, Tempe Marketplace received a new $200 million permanent financing package from GACC.

Vestar was the developer of Tempe Marketplace and had previously partnered with DLJ/Credit Suisse. Both Rockwood and Vestar made significant investments in the acquisition. Under terms of the deal, Vestar will be the managing partner.