Department Store

Lowe’s Foods opens at master-planned community in North Carolina
Lowe’s Foods rang in retail this week at Morganton Park South in Southern Pines, North Carolina, opening a 50,000-sq.-ft. anchor store in the center that is part of the 188-acre Morganton Park master-planned community. Lowe’s, which recently executed a re-branding, is a fixture in North Carolina, where it has done business since 1954. Its neighbors in the center are still to be determined. Leasing agent Lincoln Harris reports that most of the 21,000 remaining square feet in the center remains available.
Abercrombie & Fitch has changed. But do consumers realize it?
From new store prototypes to merchandise changes, Abercrombie & Fitch has been investing in efforts to transform and update its namesake and Hollister brands. Unfortunately, getting consumers to change their ideas regarding the brands is not proving all that easy, according to Columbus Business First.

Branch buys its first Alabama centers

Branch Properties, which owns 24 retail centers and restaurant parks in the Southeast, made its first foray into Alabama with the purchase of two Birmingham properties from Bayer and a silent partner. The Atlanta-based Branch gets Inverness Corners, a 236,444-sq.-ft. center anchored by Winn-Dixie and Kohl’s, and Inverness Plaza a 74,818-sq.-ft property that houses Alabama’s only PGA Super Store. The deal was brokered by JLL.
End of the road for teen apparel retailer?

Things are looking bleaker for bankrupt Aeropostale. A bankruptcy court judge on late Monday rejected a request from Aeropostale to blame its bankruptcy on Sycamore Partners and block an offer from the private equity firm. Sycamore Partners confirmed it submitted a bid for the chain after the judge issued the opinion. The amount of the bid is unknown, but it may have been $150 million, which is how much Aeropostale owes two affiliates of Sycamore, Aero Investors and MGF Sourcing Holdings.
Footwear retailer beats Street in Q2; identifies cost savings

DSW Inc. on Tuesday posted better-than-expected results for its second quarter and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. The company also said it expects to see $25 million of annualized savings in 2017 as a result of a restructuring program it launched earlier this year, with about $7 million of the total to be realized this year. The retailer said the savings would result “from organization realignment and improvements in procurement and other business processes.”
Target’s top marketing exec heading off to Uber

Target Corp. is losing its top marketing honcho just months before it enters its most important selling season. Jeff Jones, executive VP, chief marketing officer at Target, will depart the discounter effective Sept. 9. Jones will be joining Uber as president, ridesharing. He will responsible for Uber’s operations, marketing and customer support globally. Target is conducting an external and internal search for Jones' replacement.
Sears reenters category it exited four years ago

Sears Holding Corp. is hoping to capitalize on the upswing in home improvement projects. The retailer announced it is bringing back paint and related accessories to its stores under three different brands: Craftsman, Weatherbeater and Easy Living. It’s the first time the Craftsman brand will be extended to the paint category. Sears will test the new offerings in 23 stores nationwide before a chainwide rollout.
Nordstrom expands deal with specialty retailer

Nordstrom shoppers will now be able to purchase J.Crew apparel, as well as its sister brand Madewell. Continuing to expand its partnerships with select brands, the department store retailer has entered into a new deal with J. Crew Group to sell an edited assortment of J.Crew apparel at select full-line Nordstrom and on its website beginning Sept. 12. The assortment, to be featured in 16 Nordstrom locations, will include women's apparel, accessories and petites (online only).
Busy September for off-pricer

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is opening three stores on Sept. 1, two north of the border. The retailer is set to open its first-ever locations in Canada’s Alberta province, a 31,900-sq.-ft. store at South Edmonton Common, Edmonton, and a 30,000-sq.-ft. store at CrossIron Mills, Rocky View. In addition, the off-pricer is opening a 23,000-sq.-ft. store at El Paseo Square, Palm Desert, California, also on Sept. 1.
Toys ‘R’ Us promotes chief merchant to president

Toys "R" Us announced the appointment of Melanie Teed-Murch as president, Toys "R" Us, Canada, effective Sept. 1. Teed-Murch joined the retailer in 1996 as a store manager for Toys "R" Us in Kitchener, Ontario. She went on to hold a variety of senior leadership, merchandising and operational roles with increasing responsibility, including her most recent position as Canada's chief merchant.

Lowe’s Foods opens at master-planned community in North Carolina

Abercrombie & Fitch has changed. But do consumers realize it?

Branch buys its first Alabama centers

End of the road for teen apparel retailer?

Footwear retailer beats Street in Q2; identifies cost savings

Target’s top marketing exec heading off to Uber

Sears reenters category it exited four years ago

Nordstrom expands deal with specialty retailer

Busy September for off-pricer

Toys ‘R’ Us promotes chief merchant to president