Department Store

Cato Corp., just delivered its highest earnings in company history and sales topped $1 billion, but chairman, president and CEO John Cato said the road ahead could be rocky.

Cato, operator of 1,372 stores in 32 states, said its fourth quarter sales increased 4% to $247.3 million and same-store sales increased 1%. Full year sales increased 2.4% to slightly exceed $1 billion, but the addition of 31 new stores was the primary driver of full year growth as same-store sales were flat.

Ross Dress for Less opened a new store North El Centro, California on March 5. The opening is part of the retailer’s 2016 expansion program, totaling about 70 new locations during the year.

The 26,000- sq.-ft. store is located at Centro Commons, 11 miles north of the California-Mexico border, at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Cruickshank Drive. With this location, Ross operates 277 stores in California, its largest state.

March promises to be a busy month for Shopko.

The retailer will open 10 Shopko Hometown stores in late March, bringing its total number of stores opened this year so far to 12.

The company plans to continue to accelerate the expansion of its Hometown format with additional locations through 2017. Developed over the past five years to augment Shopko’s larger store model, the concept is focused on serving the needs of smaller rural communities. Stores average 15,000 sq. ft. to 35,000 sq. ft.

RSR has been tracking retailers' e-commerce strategies for more than five years. During that time we’ve seen interest in a major platform refresh, the introduction of mobile and social as e-commerce considerations, as well as convergence – where retailers increasingly view mobile and other non-commerce online activities in the context of their overall "digital" strategy, with their e-commerce platform as the centerpiece.

The newest addition to a Texas-sized mixed-used development taking shape north of Fort Worth is a 350,000-sq.-ft. retail project from Tanger Factory Outlet Centers.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced renovation plans for CoolSprings Galleria in Nashville, Tennessee. The renovation comes on the heels of a major anchor redevelopment completed in early 2015, the recent addition of dining destination Connors Steak & Seafood, and the opening of Kings Bowling and Entertainment in May.

Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck was in New York on March 16 to receive the 2016 Catalyst Award from an organization focused on accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion.

A new tenant has been added to the lineup at American Dream, the mega retail and entertainment destination under construction in East Rutherford, New Jersey: Century 21.

The off-pricer will open a nearly 60,000 sq. ft. location at the long-delayed center, which when completed will boost such attractions as an indoor water park, a Lego Discovery Center, a 16-story indoor ski and snow park, a miniature golf course — and more than 450 retail stores.