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Burlington, Mass. -- Another iconic brand has opened its own freestanding store.

Ice hockey equipment giant Bauer Hockey, founded in 1927, has opened its first-ever physical store, in the Boston suburb of Burlington, Massachusetts. The 20,000-sq.-ft. store, called “Own the Moment Hockey Experience,” is the first of 10 locations the company plans to open in the United States and Canada. A second is set to open this fall, in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Charming Charlie has been on an upward trajectory for the past 10 years, and it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. With 350 U.S. stores (plus four in Canada), the Houston-based, privately held jewelry and accessories retailer is busy expanding at home and, more recently, abroad. In June, it opened its first-ever location in New York City, a three-level, 16,000-sq.-ft.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is adding a department store to its growing portfolio.

Belk, the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company, on Monday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be 100% acquired by Sycamore Partners in a transaction with an estimated value of approximately $3 billion.

New York -- As if retailers didn’t have enough to worry about, teens are shopping more like their parents.

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“Now Trending” is an exclusive online series to chainstoreage.com, featuring trending topics that impact the retail real estate landscape.

It is no secret that there is a significant paradigm shift underway in the world of regional retail development.

Pittsburgh — Michael Leedy, chief marketing officer of American Eagle Outfitters Inc., will step down from his position effective Sept. 15, 2015. The company has an active search for a successor underway.

Leedy has committed to serve in an advisory role if needed to ensure a smooth transition. American Eagle did not comment on the reason for Leedy’s departure, and his LinkedIn profile still indicates he works there.

Michaels is targeting online DIYers via a new strategic arrangement with a San Francisco startup.

The world's largest arts and crafts retailer has partnered with trend-driven online DIY marketplace Darby Smart to make crafting simpler and more accessible to everyone.

London, U.K. — Online retailing giant Amazon.com is the retail industry's fastest growing social media brand. According to the latest Retail Social Media Benchmark results from eDigitalResearch, Amazon tops both the Facebook and Twitter social media rankings.

Amazon climbed to the benchmark's top spot, thanks in part to its recent Prime Day sales event, having gained more than 1.2 million new followers on its Twitter account since the last wave back in March.