Department Store

New York -- Robert Graham has signed a new lease agreement to open a branded retail store featuring the full Robert Graham collection in NorthPark Center in Dallas. The store will carry the complete range of Robert Graham, including men's sportswear, premium denim, furnishings, accessories, outerwear, newly launched footwear collection and women's sportswear.

NorthPark Center features a unique backdrop of art, architecture and landscaping for the enjoyment of its discerning customers. The Robert Graham store will open in late Spring 2014.

New York -- Francesca’s, Maurices and tween/teen fave Five Below are in an expansion mode.

Francesca’s, based in Houston, will open about 85 stores this year, down slightly from 91 openings last year.   

Woodbridge, Va. — Potomac Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the Washington, D.C., area has appointed Sam Hosn as its new general manager. Paul Fickinger, executive VP of property management for The Mills, a Simon Company, made the announcement.

As general manager, Hosn will manage the day-to-day operations of Potomac Mills including leasing, contract negotiations, staff supervision, office management, budgeting, tenant relations and marketing.

The Woodlands, Texas – Conn’s Inc. reported net income of $27.73 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, up 57% from $17.66 million in the same quarter the prior fiscal year. The retailer intends to open 15 to 20 new stores during fiscal 2015.

Net sales grew 45% to $301.63 million from $250.34 million, and same-store sales increase 33.4%. Conn’s said significant sales growth was reported across all major product categories during the quarter, and the company opened six new stores in that time.

Duluth, Minn. -- Ascena Retail Group, parent to the Maurices, DressBarn and Lane Bryant banners, announced the 900th Maurices store opening. The Fresno, Calif., store will officially open later this month, joining 899 other stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Maurices will open 60 new stores by the end of its fiscal year in July 2014. In addition to new store openings, Maurices is remodeling or expanding 80 stores this year.  

The company's long-term goal is to reach over 1,200 stores domestically and 100 stores in Canada.

Tempe, Ariz. — DSW, Nordstrom Rack and Total Wine & More have leased space at the 1.3 million-sq.-ft. Tempe Marketplace in Tempe, Ariz.

DSW will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. store in mid April. Nordstrom Rack plans to open a 35,000-sq.-ft. store in October. Total Wine & More, the largest independent fine wine retailer in the country, will occupy 20,000 sq. ft. and plans to open in October.

Vestar developed and owns Tempe Marketplace.
 

Chattanooga, Tenn. — The Cheesecake Factory and H&M will open at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky., as part of a redevelopment by owner CBL & Associates Properties.

The redevelopment will renovate a former Sears store and expand the mall entrance to create 115,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for a mix of fashion and home furnishing stores and restaurants. Construction has begun, and CBL expects the work to be completed this fall.

Maurices is marking a major milestone. The retailer, which started small in downtown Duluth, Minn., has opened its 900th store in Fresno, Calif.

And the retailer is not stopping there. Plans are in place to open 60 additional stores for a total of more than 925 stores in 46 states and Canada by July. Maurices is also remodeling or expanding 80 stores this year to keep the chain fresh.

The company's long-term goal is to reach more than 1,200 stores domestically and 100 stores in Canada.