Department Store

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The American Customer Satisfaction Index has dropped just 0.1% from the previous quarter to 75.9 on the ACSI's 100-point scale, indicating that customers satisfaction remains strong, the ACSI reported.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Look out Lane Bryant. An exclusive line of plus-size apparel is launching this month at Kmart under the LYS brand names, which stands for love your style and love your size. The LYS collection is said to feature trend forward separates that are designed to flatter plus-size women of all shapes and sizes including printed halters, skinny jeans and tunic dresses.

New York City -- A Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that hedge fund billionaire and Sears Holding Corp. chairman Edward Lampert has reported holding a 5.8% stake in Gap Inc.

Lampert reported the stake in a 13G filing, or a filing for passive investors, with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Monday.

His ESL Partners company and affiliates reported beneficially holding 35 million common shares.

Hollywood, Fla. -- Perry Ellis said it has opened a men’s fashion store in Seminole Paradise at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Wells Fargo retail analyst Matt Nemer put several leading retailers to the test this week with an innovative approach to research. According to Barron’s, he went on a $5,000 shopping spree on the websites of some of the largest Internet-only and traditional retailers. He said Amazon.com offered the best shopping experience, and he rated the retailer at outperform. Walmart.com was said to have higher prices than Amazon’s, but had strong customer service and didn’t showed up as well in searches.

New York City -- South Africa’s competition watchdog has recommended that Wal-Mart Stores’ proposed takeover of the country’s retail chain Massmart be unconditionally approved without conditions.

Wal-Mart made a $2.4 billion bid for Massmart in November, and a vast majority of the target company’s shareholders voted to approve the deal last month.

The deal now needs final approval from South Africa’s competition tribunal. A date for the hearing and subsequent ruling has yet to be set.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- West Palm Beach, Fla.-based American Commercial Realty Corp. said it has completed several new leases at the Shoppes at Boca Greens in Boca Raton, Fla.

Cosmetics and beauty retailer Harmon Face Values, a division of Bed Bath & Beyond, will open a new, 7,400-sq.-ft. store, the retailer’s first full store in Florida.

Children’s clothing retailer Denny’s Children’s Wear will relocate and expand to an 8,600-sq.-ft. location within the center.

Paducah, Ky. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Charming Charlie will open a new fashion accessories store at Kentucky Oaks Mall, in Paducah, Ky.

The Houston-based retailer will open a 7,000-sq.-ft. store in late spring 2011. This will be the second Charming Charlie store in Kentucky, the first being located in the Lexington area.