Department Store

Hoover, Ala. -- Chicago-based General Growth Properties and Montgomery, Ala.-based Jim Wilson & Associates announced that Von Maur department store will open at Riverchase Galleria, in Hoover, Ala.

Alabama’s first Von Maur will open in 2013, featuring a 187,000-sq.-ft. store that will join Macy’s, Sears, J.C. Penney and Belk anchors.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group announced that Subway has leased 1,600 sq. ft. at Traders Point II, located in Indianapolis.

Traders Point is a 395,435-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marsh Supermarket, Michael’s, Old Navy, PetSmart and AMC Theatre.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that it will acquire a 28.7% equity stake in Klépierre from BNP Paribas for approximately $2 billion.

Klépierre is a Paris-based real estate company that focuses on the ownership, management and development of shopping centers, retail properties and offices across Continental Europe. Klépierre’s portfolio includes 271 shopping centers in 13 countries, with 50% of its properties in France and Belgium, 25% in Scandinavia, and the balance in Central and Southern Europe.

DALLAS — Zale Corp. has named Jamie Singleton SVP and general manager of Piercing Pagoda, effective March 27. In this role, Singleton will have overall responsibility for the company’s kiosk business and will report to Theo Killion, CEO.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation released information on Tuesday that showed a year-over-year retail sales rise of 8.6% in February, marking 20 consecutive months of sustained growth.

The seasonally adjusted increase -- stronger than expected -- was 0.5%, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney understands that transformation doesn't happen over night and that finding the right people to implement its strategy takes careful planning. The company's latest personnel changes come in the areas of merchandising, brand partnerships, brand makeover and store experience.

Well, 2012 is certainly off to a wild start. While there’s been nothing quite as dramatic and earth shattering as last year’s tsunami in Japan, there are plenty of global events and outside influences affecting our industry. I’m talking about the increases we’re seeing at the gas pumps and the warmer-than-average winter we’ve been experiencing throughout the country.

New York -- Macy’s on Monday started work on the four-year renovation of its Herald Square flagship in New York City. In the first phase, the retailer is making over its shoe department into what it says will be the “world’s largest shoe floor,” with 300,000 pairs of shoes stepping into a new 63,000 -sq.-ft. space (retail and stock).