Discount Store

New York -- An early Easter that drew shoppers into stores in March and slowing economic growth helped cut into retailers’ April sales results.

At Costco Wholesale Corp., April same-store sales were flat, slightly below analysts’ estimates, primarily due to the strong U.S. dollar and lower gas prices. Sales at U.S. stores increased 2% for the four weeks ended May 3. Internationally, sales fell 4%.  

Total revenue inched up 2% to $8.75 billion.

New York -- Off-price retailer Loehmann's announced that Jeffrey Cripe is joining the Loehmann's advisory board, as the company builds its online marketplace. Founded in 1921, the company closed its brick-and-mortar stores after its bankruptcy in 2013. Now under new ownership, the brand is being expanded online.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group and Hilco Merchant Resources announced that they will begin going-out-of-business sales at Simply Fashion and Dots retail locations nationwide beginning May 7.

Toronto -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th has announced its first three store locations in Canada as it prepares to enter the Canadian marketplace next year.

The retailer will open stores in Tanger Outlets, Kanata (a suburb of Ottawa); Outlet Collection at Niagara, Niagara-on-the-Lake; and Vaughan Mills, Vaughan (just north of Toronto) in spring 2016. The three stores are the first of up to 25 locations that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th plans to open nationwide.

Toronto -- Canadian Tire Corp. has concluded an agreement to acquire 12 real estate leases formerly held by Target Canada for $17.7 million. The transaction is subject to the approval of the court in connection with Target Canada's CCAA proceedings.

New York -- Discount supermarket company WinCo Foods LLC will open its 100th store on May 7, in Lewisville, Texas. The 83,000-sq.-ft. location is the fifth WinCo store to open in the Lone Star State.

The new store features WinCo's signature "Wall of Values" at the entry, which displays a wide variety of high-volume, value-priced products.

WinCo currently operates some 100 stores in the states of Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, Arizona, Utah and Texas.
 

Garden Ridge, Texas -- Décor superstore retailer At Home said that Former PetSmart CEO and chairman Phil Francis has been selected as an independent member of the board of directors of décor superstore retailer At Home. The retailer has been acquiring senior leadership talent with public company experience which has some industry experts suggesting a stock offering could be in the company’s future.

Issaquah, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp. is reportedly off to a litigious start in the first half of 2015. According to the Wall Street Journal, Costco is suing Johnson & Johnson’s Vision Care division for allegedly fixing prices on contact lenses.