Department Store

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Stores recently opened a total of 30 Ross Dress for Less and seven DD’s Discounts stores in 14 different states. These openings are part of the off-price retailer's 2014 expansion plans for about 95 new stores, which will include continuing to build presence in existing markets and grow in the newer markets initially entered in 2011.

Ross believes that long-term expansion opportunities include 2,000 Ross Dress for Less stores and 500 DD’s Discounts stores.

New York — An ~exhale MINDBODYSPA has leased 3,027-sq.-ft. location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, where Flatiron and Chelsea meet. It is a strong retail neighborhood with national fashion and specialty retailers along Fifth Avenue including Anthropologie, J.Crew, Club Monaco, kate spade, Nike, Intermix and Sephora. There are larger format retailers in the area, too: Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, Sports Authority, Staples, Men’s Wearhouse, Trader Joe’s and Marshalls along Sixth Avenue.

As other retailers make headlines for store closings, Ross Stores’ 2014 expansion plans remain on track. The off-price retailer has already opened 30 Ross Dress for Less and seven dd's Discounts stores in 14 different states, and there's more to come.

Birmingham, Ala. — Whole Foods Market has signed a lease for 40,000 sq. ft. at The Summit in Lexington, Ky. Currently under development by Bayer Properties LLC www.bayerproperties.com, The Summit Lexington is a mixed-use project with 450,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants plus 306 multi-family residential units.

Phase I of the project will open during the spring of 2016 with 340,000 sq. ft. of retail and the full complement of the planned 306 residential units. Phase II will add 110,000 sq. ft. of retail.

San Francisco -- Shopper activity cooled off in February 2014 as a result of extremely cold weather across the country. According to in-store retail analytics provider Euclid, analysis of data from tens of millions of domestic shopping sessions indicates that general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other (GAFO) retail sales grew by a modest 0.7% year-over-year.

Foot Locker enjoyed record results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Feb. 1, and expects to build on that momentum in 2014.

For the quarter, the company reported net income of $121 million, or $0.81 per share, for the 13 weeks ended Feb. 1. This represents an increase of 19% over earnings per share of $0.68 for the 14-week period ended Feb. 2, 2013.  

Severe weather that persisted during the year’s shortest month affected Gap’s February sales results. 

The company reported net sales for the four-week period ended March 1 of $929 million, compared with net sales of $966 million for the four-week period ended March 2, 2013. Comparable-store sales for the month declained 7%, versus last year’s 3% increase.

“While February was clearly a difficult month, we remain focused on executing our global priorities,” said chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy.

San Francisco – Gap Inc. had a disappointing February 2014 as net sales and same-store sales declined, compared to the same month in the prior year. Net sales fell 4% to $929 million from $966 million, while same-store sales dropped 7%.