Department Store

New York - Ryan Guheen has joined Brixmor Property Group as senior VP, redevelopment & strategic leasing. Guheen is based in New York and will play a major role in the company’s Raising the Bar initiative.

Raising the Bar involves upgrading the merchandise mix at its shopping centers with best-in-class anchors to drive higher sales, traffic and small shop leasing, while elevating center appeal to improve rent levels and net operating income growth.

Toronto -- Canadians are not flocking over the border as much as last year, according to a recent cross-border shopping survey by marketing research firm GfK. Deterred by higher US exchange rates, Canadians are less willing to make the drive, despite the wider product selections available stateside.

San Francisco – Gap Inc. reported disappointing sales for April and the first quarter, hurt by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and sliding sales at its namesake and Banana Republic divisions. Also, earlier timing of the Easter holiday, as compared to 2014, benefited the company’s March sales results and negatively impacted its April sales results.

Total same-store sales fell 12% in April, worse than predicted. Sales at Old Navy declined 6%, while sales at Banana Republic plunged 15%. Same-store sales for Gap fell 15%.

New York -- Boscov’s Department Store believes in keeping it in the family. Albert Boscov, 85, has resigned as CEO of the company, and been succeeded by his nephew, Jim Boscov. The new chief, who will continue to serve as vice chairman, is the third generation of the family to lead the privately held business which was founded more than 100 years ago.

About a year and a half ago, I wrote the following about Sears in an article that appeared in this space: “the company has been run less like a retail operation and more like a REIT for many years now.”

Secaucus, N.J. – The Children’s Place Inc. is publicly criticizing a report from proxy advisory service Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommending that shareholders elect one of two board nominees from activist investors Macellum SPV II L.P. and Barington Companies Equity Partners L.P. ISS supports election of Robert L. Mettler but recommends against electing Seth R. Johnson.

Surging sales at Old Navy helped Gap Inc. offset sales declines at its namesake division and its Banana Republic stores in the first quarter.

Gap Inc. reported that for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, Gap Inc.’s net sales decreased 3% to $3.66 billion compared with $3.77 billion for the first quarter last year.

Macy’s is looking for charity partners to participate in the retailer’s 10th annual national “Shop For A Cause.”

The retailer’s one-day-only shopping event, which is very popular with shoppers, is designed to support local charities’ fundraising efforts.