Department Store

NEW YORK - Gracious Home, a home goods retailer with stores in New York City's Upper West and Upper East side neighborhoods, as well as online at gracioushome.com, was acquired by Americas Retail Flagship Fund LLC. The company under its prior ownership had filed for bankruptcy protection in August.

ABILENE, Kan. - Duckwall-ALCO Stores reported that net sales from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 decreased 0.6% to $110.5 million and same-store sales decreased 2.3%.

Net loss for the third quarter was $2 million, or 53 cents per diluted share, compared with net loss of $1.4 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

NEW YORK - Macy's announced that it was found to be the number one department store retailer in the United States, according to a survey of international visitors by Mandala Research.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - TJX Companies announced that it will consolidate its A.J. Wright division by converting 91 A.J. Wright stores into T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods stores and by closing the remaining 71 stores, A.J. Wright’s two distribution centers and its home office. This action is expected to improve the overall profitability of the company, and will allow TJX to focus its managerial and financial resources on its larger, more profitable businesses, all of which have major growth potential, as well as to serve the A.J.

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.

Gainesville, Ga. -- The Atlanta office of Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said that Shoe Carnival recently opened a 9,165-sq.-ft. store in Gainesville, Ga., in the Village Shoppes at Gainesville.

Neighboring retailers include Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, Old Navy and Publix.

The landlord of the center is Inland US Management, LLC.

Yamaguchi City, Japan -- Fast Retailing Co. said Friday it aims to open at least 200 Uniqlo stores in the U.S. by 2020.

Asia’s largest clothing chain said it seeks to raise sales sixfold in a decade.

“The United States is one of the most important markets for us,” Shin Odake, CEO of Uniqlo’s U.S. unit, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “We want to become the number one retailer in the world.”

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.