Department Store

Benbrook, Texas -- The City of Benbrook, Texas, announced Wednesday a new partnership with customer analytics firm Buxton to develop a new regional shopping center The Trails Town Center.

The public -private partnership will build a 1.5 million-sq.-ft., open-air, regional shopping and entertainment development projected to generate $375 million in annual retail sales and provide 6,250+ jobs.

Now that Walmart has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in South African retailer Massmart a major competitor contends it will need to lay off 8.6% of its work force to improve its competitive position.

That’s according to South African media reports indicating rival Pick n Pay Stores said it was looking to eliminate 3,137 of its 36,673 positions. Conversely, Walmart has said it will create 15,000 jobs in South Africa within five years, implying a fairly robust level of expansion.

New York City -- Most retailers surprised Wall Street with better-than-expected monthly sales results in June, as bargains led shoppers to spend more. June is the second most important month on a retailers' sales calendar behind December. It is June that stores typically clear out summer merchandise to make room for fall goods.

Stronger-than-expected sales from a number of retailers in June is adding credence to a recent forecast that this year’s back-to-dchool season could be the strongest in the past five years, which is good news for Walmart as it looks for a strong ending to its second quarter.

Shoppers continue to face a lot of economic headwinds this back-to-school season, but one forecaster has seasonal sales growing by 6.2% to $467 billion, the most since 2006.

Ridgeland, Miss. -- Renaissance at Colony Park announced that Brooks Brothers is joining its tenant lineup and is scheduled to open a 7,500+-sq.-ft. store in Ridgeland, Miss., in November. Currently, the nearest Brooks Brothers stores to the Jackson (Miss.) metropolitan area are in New Orleans and Memphis.

Other recent openings at Renaissance at Colony Park include Another Broken Egg Café and Apricot Lane Boutique. Opening soon are SOMA Intimates and Altar’d State Christian Stores.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Collective Brands has announced that Richard Markee has been elected to its board of directors, with a term to expire in 2014.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties announced Tuesday that Susan E. Houck has been named senior VP marketing.

In her new capacity, Houck will spearhead integrated field marketing efforts, including advertising, public relations, strategic planning, community relations, and travel and tourism.

Prior to her appointment as senior VP, Houck oversaw marketing efforts for the Southwest region of GGP.
 

New York City -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a lawsuit with Target Corp. regarding the rights of a disabled cart attendant in California's Orange County, the Associated Press reported.

Court papers filed on Tuesday reveal that Target agreed to pay former employee Jeremy Schott $160,000 and develop policies to respond to disabled employees' needs, the report said.