Department Store

New York – Ann Inc. is opening its first Loft store in Mexico, continuing the company's international expansion. The store is located in the Antea Lifestyle Center in Queretaro, with additional locations planned for later this year in Mexico City's Parque Toreo Mall and Puebla's Angelopolis Mall.

Ann Inc. is working with its franchise partner Grupo Axo to establish its retail presence in Mexico.

Frankfort, Ill. – Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of Prairie Crossings Shopping Center in Frankfort, Illinois. The 109,079-square-foot center was purchased by Oak Brook, Illinois.-based Inland Real Estate Corporation for $24.66 million.

With average in-store purchases exceeding online sales by two and three times, popular online-only retailers, including Birchbox, Piperlime, Bonobos and Blank Label are continuing their expansion into physical storefronts, further accelerating the trend of online retail concepts expanding their omnichannel sales strategy to include physical locations.

Grapevine, Texas -- Grapevine Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in North Texas, welcomed Torrid to its retail line-up of more than 180 stores, and will soon enhance its selection when Steve Madden opens in October.  

Houston - Stage Stores Inc. has entered into an amended and restated $350 million senior secured revolving credit facility that will mature on Oct. 6, 2019. The credit facility replaces the company’s former $250 million senior secured revolving credit facility, which was set to mature on June 30, 2016.

Minneapolis - Christopher & Banks Corp. is cutting its sales forecast for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, based on sales trends to date for the quarter. The company believes sales have been negatively impacted by continued softness in mall traffic and lower than expected sales from its September fashion show, as the demand for fashion merchandise exceeded planned inventory levels, as well as due to late receipts associated with the West Coast port disruptions.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Kansas on Oct. 11. The store is located in Schulman Crossing in Garden City.  

This new opening is part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year. 

The 2014 holiday shopping season will be characterized by cautious spending, while economic realities create one of two American holiday shoppers — survivalists and selectionists — according to a new report released Tuesday from PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. and Strategy, titled "2014 Holiday Outlook: Top trends, consumer behaviors and implications for retailers."