Department Store

New York -- Ann Inc., parent of Ann Taylor and Loft, said Tuesday it has entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Golden Gate Capital to provide certain non-public information with the private equity firm.    Golden Gate disclosed in a filing in March it bought a 9.5% stake in the women's clothing retailer. Ann said it has been engaged in a "collaborative, constructive" dialogue with Golden Gate since March. 

Bloomingdale's new store in Palo Alto, California, is the retailer's most digitally-sophisticated to date. From smart fitting rooms equipped with wall-mounted tablets to a digital-wallet system, the 125,00-sq.-ft. department store blends high-tech elements with a sleek, modern aesthetic. See Photos.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. plans to hire more than 63,000 seasonal associates—more than Walmart—at its stores, call centers and distribution centers nationwide for the 2014 holiday season. (Walmart previously announced it was hiring 60,000 seasonal associates.)  

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Kmart is the latest retailer to be hit by a payment data breach. The breach was discovered last Thursday by the chain’s information technology team, and the company immediately launched an investigation with a leading security firm, according to Kmart’s parent company, Sears Holdings Corp.   

Las Vegas -- The Howard Hughes Corp. on Oct. 9 officially opened Downtown Summerlin in Las Vegas, the largest retail development to open in the U.S. since the economic downturn.    The destination features 125 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues located in a 106-acre expanse of prime real estate just off the 215 Beltway, between Sahara Avenue and Charleston Boulevard. The development also features a nine-story Class A office building - One Summerlin. 

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney on Monday appointed Marvin Ellison president and CEO-designee, effective Nov. 1. Ellison, executive VP of stores for Home Depot, will also join the company’s board of directors.

Ellison, 49, will succeed Mike Ullman, III, as CEO of Penney on Aug. 1, 2015, when Ullman will become executive chairman of the board for one year.

Amazon once again takes the lead in disruptive news with reports it will open its first-ever physical store in New York City on West 34th Street, across from the Empire State Building and down the street from the iconic Macy’s flagship store. Even more than for its impressive location, the store is notable as the ultimate symbol of the continuing primacy of brick-and-mortar in the omnichannel environment.