Department Store

Von Maur has opened its first location in Wisconsin.   The family-owned company opened a 150,000-sq.-ft. store at The Corners of Brookfield in Brookfield, Wisconsin.   Von Maur has been expanding with its eye on a national footprint. After expanding beyond its Midwestern footprint in 2011 with the opening of its first location in Georgia, Von Maur has since grown in additional new states including New York, Alabama and Oklahoma.   

The country’s unemployment rate fell to 4.5% in March, but a volatile retail landscape continues to negatively impact merchant’s payrolls.    The U.S. economy added 98,000 jobs last month, versus 180,000 expected by economists surveyed by Reuters.   However, the number of unemployed persons declined by 326,000 to 7.2 million.  

L Brands’ recent exit from swimwear continues to take its toll on the company’s sales.    The specialty retailer, which operates Victoria’s Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, reported its net sales decreased 7% to  $951.4 million for the five weeks ended April 1, 2017. This is compared to net sales of $1.027 billion for the five weeks ended April 2 , 2016.  

Stage Stores is officially adding Gordmans stores to its portfolio.   Stage Stores closed on its previously announced acquisition of selected assets of Gordmans Stores, the Omaha, Nebraska-based department store chain that filed for Chapter 11 on March 13.   

Academy Sports + Outdoors is bolstering its executive team.   The sporting good chain appointed Sam Johnson as its executive VP of retail operations, effective April 24. In his new role, Johnson will oversee the day-to-day operations of Academy's more than 225 stores, as well as lead the store support team.  

The fashion retailer known for its bold, colorful designs is losing its chief executive.   Benetton Group’s Marco Airoldi will resign as of May 16. The board accepted his resignation on Tuesday.   Airoldi joined the company in 2013 – first as a consultant, then as CEO and managing director. During his tenure, he has contributed to the definition and subsequent launch of the company’s refocus and relaunch plan, which targets a selection of markets, stores and the Benetton Group brands. 

Bids are being accepted on the leases for 425 Payless ShoeSource locations through May 15, according to RCS Real Estate Advisors, which has been retained to handle the disposition.   The stores range in size from 2,000 to 5,000 sq. ft. and are situated in both mall and street environments.   Payless this week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. It will continue to operate its business as usual at its nearly 4,000 other locations. 

After three quarters of missing analyst estimates, Bed Bath & Beyond’s fourth quarter ended on a high note, and beat expectations.