Department Store

Rent the Runway, the popular online retailer specializing in rentals of pricey designer dresses and accessories, has opened a brick-and-mortar outpost on the second floor of The Cosmopolitan hotel’s retail complex in Las Vegas.

Clifton, N.J. — Blink Fitness has leased a 15,000-sq.-ft. location at the 80,000-sq.-ft. Clifton Plaza shopping center in Clifton, N.J., according to Levin Management (www.levinmgt.com), the property’s managing and leasing agent.

Co-anchored by a 24,000-sq.-ft. Big Lots and a 14,000-sq.-ft. Dollar Tree, Clifton Plaza’s tenant roster includes GameStop, Radio Shack, Angel Tip Nails & Spa, Bruno’s Pizza, Sally Beauty Supply and Valley National Bank.

New York — H&M will open its largest store to date, a 57,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, on July 17.  The massive, museum-inspired store will carry the fast-fashion’s entire product line-up, including maternity, newborn, special sizes along with childrenswear, men’s and women’s apparel, and cosmetics. It will also feature a home department and in-shop stores for accessories and lingerie.

It looks like Sycamore Partners, which owns approximately 9.9% of Express’ outstanding shares, is interested in acquiring the retailer.

Express confirmed that it has received a letter from Sycamore and has established a special committee of the board to determine a course of action that serves the best interest of all stockholders. The retailer has also engaged Perella Weinberg Partners LP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as advisers to itself and the special committee.

Swedish clothing retailer H&M will be celebrating the July 17 opening of its museum-inspired Fifth Avenue flagship store with the help of artist Jeff Koons.

The partnership — H&M’s first artist collaboration — will take the form of a handbag that Koons designed in the shape of his famous stainless steel balloon dog sculpture. The handbag will be sold starting July 17 at H7M stores in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

New York City — Forever 21 has taken space at the Mall at Bay Plaza, which is scheduled to open on August 14. The new store will span about 15,000 sq. ft.

A new 166,000-sq.-ft. Macy’s and an existing 150,000-sq.-ft. J.C. Penney will anchor the new mall. Forever 21 will join more than 100 retailers at Bay Plaza, including Kay Jewelers, Victoria Secret, H&M and Michael Kors.

Columbus, Ohio — Express Inc. confirmed that it has received a letter from Sycamore Partners, which owns approximately 9.9% of Express' outstanding shares, indicating that the private equity firm is interested in acquiring the company. In response, Express adopted a one-year “poison pill” shareholder rights plan that would double its shares of common stock in the event any stockholder acquires 10% or more of the company.

The Children's Place has added Susan Sobbott to its board of directors as a Class II director to serve for a three-year term.