Department Store

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open four new locations in the greater Chicago area on March 8, 2014. These openings bring the total number of Chicago area stores to 35 for the retailer.

New York -- Traditional retail categories are increasingly blurring, and more and more shoppers are turning to drug stores and other types of outlets to buy groceries, according to a survey of Millenial, Gen X and Baby Boomer consumers. The study was conducted by retail design firm King Retail Solutions in conjunction with the University of Arizona Center for Retailing.

Hamilton, Bermuda - In a deal that would combine the two largest mid-tier jewelry chains in the United States, Signet Jewelers Ltd. has agreed to buy rival Zale Corp. for about $690 million dollars. Signet will offer $21 in cash for each Zale share, representing a 41% premium over Tuesday's closing price.

New York - Eminence Capital, LLC, which owns 4.9% of the common stock of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, has sent a letter to the board of directors criticizing their announced acquisition of Eddie Bauer. According to the letter, signed by Eminence CEO Ricky Sandler, the nearly $900 million acquisition is a poor decision that has an excessive price which almost surely destroys shareholder value.

New York — Steve Madden and Trebbianno have signed long-term leases totaling more than 60,000 sq. ft. at 19 West 34th Street, also known as the Martin Building, in New York City.

Steve Madden is taking the entire fifth floor and part of the fourth and eighth floors and will use approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of the 14-story building. The space will serve as one of Steve Madden’s corporate offices and showrooms.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Redfield Promenade in Reno, Nev.

The store is scheduled to open in spring 2015. Redfield Promenade is owned and operated by Kimco Realty Corp.
 
"We're thrilled to bring a Nordstrom Rack to the Reno community," said Geevy Thomas, president of Nordstrom Rack. "This central retail location at Redfield Promenade is a good fit for us and we look forward to offering customers access to fashion at great prices when we open our doors next year."

More Americans this year are expected to put their tax returns in the bank. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s Tax Returns Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, 46% of those expecting a refund this year will put their money into savings, up from 44% last year and the highest percent in the survey’s history.

Hampstead, Md. - JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. has commenced a tender offer to purchase up to $300 million in value of shares of its common stock at a price of $65 per share. The closing price of the company's common stock on Feb. 18, 2014 was $54.20 per share.