Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Chicago — Turkish fashion concept, SARAR, signed a lease at 111 West Washington Street in Chicago for 3,139 sq. ft. Mid-America Vice President Michael Wexler represented SARAR in the transaction. Danielle Rudas and John Vance of Stone Real Estate represented the landlord.

This will be SARAR’s third location in Illinois. The new location is expected to open in fall 2014. 

Atlanta -- Country Club Prep, an e-commerce retailer for preppy apparel, is hosting the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 23. Launched from a basement in 2012 by two former attorneys Matt Watson and Stephen Glasgow, the concept will launch its brick-and-mortar presence at the University of Virginia.

Mall-based specialty retailer Aeropostale has appointed Julian R. Geiger as CEO, effective immediately — a role he previously held until 2010. Geiger succeeds Thomas P. Johnson, a former Brooks Brother executive who replaced Geiger after he left.

In 2011, Geiger was appointed president and CEO of Crumbs Bake Shop. He resigned from Crumbs at the end of December 2013, and rejoined the Aeropostale board in May, and will remain a member.

Long Island City, N.Y. -- Steve Madden has completed the acquisition of privately held Dolce Vita Holdings Inc., which specializes in the design, sourcing and sale of branded and private label footwear. The acquisition was completed for $60.3 million.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc. reported that profit for the second quarter dipped to $67.5 million, compared with $76.4 million last year.

Revenue rose to a record $811 million from $758.5 million, solidly beating analysts’ projections of $805 million in sales. Same-store sales increased 21% at Free People and 6% at the Anthropologie Group, and decreased 10% at Urban Outfitters. 

Urban Outfitters operates under the Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters banners.
 

Boston -- Wayfair filed its paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday to raise as much as $350 million on the public market.

The Boston-based online homegoods retailer posted a loss last year of $15.5 million, and the loss was $51.4 million in the last six months. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup are leading up the underwriting for the IPO, along with Allen & Co., Pacific Crest Securities, Piper Jaffray, Wells Fargo Securities, Canaccord Genuity, Cowen and Co., and Raymond James.

Nike has appointed a new VP and GM of its stores and its women’s line. Heidi O’Neill will work with Nike stores, and Amy Montagne has been placed with NIKE Women’s.
 
“These two appointments demonstrate our commitment to investing in our retail experience and our women’s business – two of our most strategic growth opportunities,” Nike brand president Trevor Edwards said. “We’re delighted to elevate two seasoned Nike leaders in these important roles.”
 

Seattle -- Just two weeks after announcing its $350-million acquisition of men’s personalized clothing service Trunk Club, Nordstrom Inc. reported second-quarter earnings and sales in line with Wall Street projections.

Profit for the quarter was flat at $183 million, and sales climbed 6.2% to $3.3 billion, from $3.1 billion last year. Same-store sales rose a respectable 3.3%.