Department Store

United Airlines has taken over the windows of one of the nation’s most iconic department stores.   Saks Fifth Avenue on Wednesday unveiled United Airlines Polaris-themed windows at the retailer’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.     

Wal-Mart Stores has appointed John Furner to succeed Rosalind Brewer, who is retiring as chief executive of Sams’ Club next month. Furner will assume the role of executive VP, president and CEO of the warehouse club chain on Feb. 1.  

Ascena Retail Group Inc. cut its earnings outlook as poor sales moved it into a highly promotional stance during the holiday period.   The operator of Ann Taylor, Loft, Dressbarn, Lane Bryant, Maurices and Catherines said total same-same sales declined 3.1% during the November/December period.    

Nordstrom has added the title of chief innovation officer to its executive team.   The department store retailer named company veteran Geevy Thomas to the new position. Thomas, who most recently served as president of Nordstrom Rack, brings 34 years of experience in all areas of Nordstrom to this role, beginning as a salesperson and then moving into store, regional and buying management roles.   

Dakota REIT has acquired what instantly became the largest shopping center in its portfolio — the 114,102-sq.-ft. Pinehurst Square East in Bismarck, North Dakota.   The Fargo-based REIT’s retail holdings consist primarily of neighborhood centers under 60,000-sq.-ft. in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Its largest center prior to the Pinehurst acquisition was the 103,860-sq.-ft. First Center South in Fargo.  

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is making a play for a department store and mall operator in China.   The company made a $2.6 billion bid for Intime Retail, with a plan to take it private, reported the New York Times. Alibaba already owns a 28% stake in the company, which operates 29 department stores and 17 shopping malls in China, mainly in first- and second-tier cities.  

Houston-based developer Levcor Inc. has asked a North Carolina town to rezone an 11-acre parcel to accommodate a shopping center of up to 100,000 sq. ft.   The site resides just south of CBL’s Hanes Mall and a power strip consisting of Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, and Sam’s Club in Winston-Salem. Levcor is asking that the property, assembled from multiple lots, be rezoned from residential, single family use to general business special use.  

Hudson's Bay Co. is the latest department store retailer to report weak holiday sales.   The Canadian retailer, whose banners include Hudson’s Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, reported a 0.7% decrease in consolidated comparable sales in the nine-week holiday selling period that ended Dec. 31.