Discount Store

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Southeast on July 19th.  The store openings are in The Village on Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Georgia, and Dixie Valley Shopping Center in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky.  These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores’ third quarter income plunged 33% amid higher costs and increased competition. Same-store sales fell 1.8%, which marked the third straight quarterly decline.

Family Dollar is under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn to put itself up for sale. The company has adopted a shareholder rights plan, or "poison pill."

Orlando, Fla. -- Nordstrom announced plans to shutter its store in the Florida Mall Orlando, Florida. Originally opened in 2002, the store will close its doors on August 16, 2014.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings is extending its Shop Your Way membership program with a major expansion of its rewards program with the addition of more than 50 brand-name partners. Once the exclusive membership program of Sears, Kmart and Lands' End, Shop Your Way will not include more partners in more categories.

New York -- Retail sales generally improved in June, helped by good weather and big discounts as retailers look to clear inventory for the back-to-school season.
 
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 6% increase in June same-store sales, helped by higher fuel prices. Its results topped Wall Street estimates.

Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates and gasoline prices, Costco’s same-store sales increased 6% for the five-week period ended July 6. The metric rose 5% in the United States and 7% overseas.  

Barnegat, N.J. — Two long-term lease agreements totaling 6,600 sq. ft. bring retail occupancy to 100% at Bayshore Plaza in Barnegat, New Jersey, according to the 59,000-sq.-ft. property’s leasing and managing firm Levin Management. 

The new tenants include casual Italian restaurant Luigi’s Ristorante and Brick Oven Pizza (2,400 sq. ft.) and non-profit green initiative Greensleeves Boutique (4,200 sq. ft.).

East Peoria, Illinois — McDonald’s Restaurants of Peoria/Bloomington will join the East Peoria Levee District with the opening of a new restaurant in September.

 Local owner-operator Scott Bandy will be overseeing the construction of the restaurant, with plans to include a modern exterior and dual drive-thru lanes. Interior features include a dual-point ordering system with new split counter function, free Wi-Fi, and digital menu boards.

Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania — Wolfson Group will launch a redevelopment of Hilltown Crossings, a community shopping center with a gross leasable area of 354,458 sq. ft., located on Route 309 at Orvilla Road in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.