Department Store

By Lynn Hinderaker, [email protected]

The future is knocking on the door of hedge fund manager and owner of Sears, Eddie Lampert. His decision to split off Lands’ End and Sears Auto Center from the core Sears brand would have been a good decision in 2004, one year after he purchased the deteriorating retail brand. Today, given the monumental shift in online purchasing behavior that has changed all of retailing, Lampert’s move is akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Issaquah, Wash. — Construction is nearing completion on Issaquah Highlands’ new shopping and entertainment district, Grand Ridge Plaza. The Regency Centers Corp. center, which broke ground in the summer of 2012, is in the midst of its busiest rollout stretch, which features the grand opening of a Safeway grocery store.

If avoiding large crowds is your criteria for tackling the holiday shopping season, then ShopperTrak has some advice for you.

ShopperTrak, a leading provider of shopper analytics, has identified the 10 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas likely to have the least amount of in-store holiday shopper traffic, making them the best days to shop for consumers looking to do their shopping in a less frenzied environment.

New York -- Cache's loss in the third quarter widened amid increased expenses. Its results were also impacted by a large income tax benefit last year.

For the period ended Sept. 28, Cache Inc. lost $8 million, compared to a loss of $6.4 million a year ago.

Revenue increased 3% to $47.2 million, from $45.8 million. Same-store sales were down 2.9%.

New York -- The Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers saga continues with reports that Men’s Wearhouse will review a previously rejected merger with Jos. A. Bank Clothiers.

Eminence Capital LLC, Men's Wearhouse largest single shareholder, said the retailer is still exploring its strategic options, including a possible merger with Jos. A. Bank, the Associated Press reported. The New York-based hedge fund has urged the retailer to quickly engage with Jos. A. Bank over the merger offer that Men's Wearhouse turned down in October.

Waterloo, Ontario -- Descartes Systems Group announced that Sears Holdings Corp. has selected Descartes' home delivery solution to enhance its ability to serve customers and improve the efficiency of its home delivery operations.

New York -- Thirty-eight percent of shoppers are likely to shop on Thanksgiving Day this year, according to Accenture’s annual Holiday Shopping Survey. Of those shoppers planning to hit the stores on Thanksgiving, 41% said they will be out shopping between 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and 5 a.m. the next morning.

Chicago — Four new tenants have joined the Glen Town Center in Glenview, Ill., according to CBRE, the broker in the transaction.

Fast-casual burger chain MOOYAH made the center its 60th location in a roll-out with the goal of 100 restaurants by 2014. Pinot’s Palette, a national paint and sip franchise, is opening its third Illinois location and 48th overall. Mingle Juice is the third new tenant. Finally, The Curragh Tradition Irish Pub will make Glen Town Center its fourth location.