Department Store

Chicago -- Torrid, the edgy plus-sized apparel division of Hot Topic, will open a flagship on State Street in Chicago, on April 8. It’s part of 60 stores the retailer is planning to open across the country this year.

The 3,000-sq.-ft. store, located in The Loop, Chicago's historic shopping district, will be Torrid's tenth store in the Windy City.

Sydney, Australia -- Australian omnichannel footwear retailer Shoes of Prey, which enables shoppers to design their own shoes,  has launched phase two of its “Design Your Own Shoes” studios in partnership with Nordstrom. The collaboration marks the brand’s first foray into the U.S. market, bringing its virtual design experience to a physical shop-in-shop concept.

Hampstead, Md. – Jos. A. Bank Clothiers is reportedly laying off 122 workers at its corporate headquarters. According to Reuters, the cuts will occur between May and December 2015, and represent about 15% of its total headquarters personnel. The layoffs come nearly one year after the company was acquired by Men’s Wearhouse.

Ongoing problems with its credit-financing business led Conn's to post a large decrease in profits for the fourth quarter.

Overall, for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, Conn’s reported a profit of $15.5 million, or 42 cents a share, compared with a profit of $27.7 million, or 75 cents a share, a year earlier.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s announced that Bloomingdale’s plans to open a 150,000-sq.-ft., three-level location in fall 2018 in an all-new shopping, dining and entertainment center being developed in Norwalk, Connecticut, by General Growth Properties.

“This spectacular new shopping center will be a distinctive and upscale destination for Fairfield County and surrounding areas, prominently positioned at I-95 and Highway 7,” said Tony Spring, chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s.

New York -- U.K. toy retailer Hamleys Plc has opened Europe’s largest toy store, a 73,000-sq.-ft. location in Moscow. It is also the second largest toy store in the world, with Toys “R” Us’ Times Square outpost taking the top spot.  (As previously reported, Hamleys is planning to enter the United States).
 

Ascena Retail Group has named Brian Lynch, a 35-year fashion and retail industry veteran, as president and CEO of its Justice stores<span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-family: open_sansregular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; fo

Christopher & Banks Corp. has named a former Macy's executive to its board of directors.