Discount Store

With 2014 almost over, another holiday shopping season is drawing to a close. The looming question on everyone’s mind, of course, is whether holiday sales managed to live up to the (mostly) positive holiday forecasts from analysts and retail organizations.   

Mexico City, Mexico - Grupo Financiero Inbursa, a banking firm owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, has reportedly bought the bank division of Wal-Mart de Mexico (Walmex) for $246.94 million, or 1.7 times Walmex’s bank capital.

 

According to Reuters, Walmex has been focusing on selling its non-core assets, such as its restaurant division, in the past year.

Mexico City - Wal-Mart de Mexico said that that Enrique Ostale, Walmex chairman and Latin America CEO for Wal-Mart Stores, will also take over as CEO of the Mexican company, effective January 1.  

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. - Dollar General is offering free shipping on all purchases made online at on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, with the guarantee all in-stock purchases will arrive on or before Dec. 24, 2014.   No minimum purchase is required to take advantage of these savings to give last-minute holiday shoppers and money-saving customers alike a reason to celebrate this season.  

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - JLL’s Capital Markets experts announced the sale of Coursey Commons Shopping Center on behalf of Blue Ridge Real Estate Company. Wal-Mart Stores purchased the Baton Rouge, Louisiana shopping center for $10.9 million. The 67,775-sq.-ft. center is anchored by a Walmart Neighborhood Market and includes Sally Beauty Supply, AT&T Mobility, UPS store and Weight Watchers.  

Lakewood, Colorado - Colorado Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the state, in conjunction with the full-priced Denver West Village located on the Colorado Mills campus, is introducing a Dine and Discover program, allowing restaurant goers to Colorado Mills or Denver West Village participating eateries to claim gift cards for continued shopping at some of Colorado Mills’ retail store.  

Toronto  - Hudson’s Bay Co. has named Gerald Storch, the former CEO of Toys “R” Us, as its new CEO, effective January 6.  An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Storch oversaw the expansion of Toys “R” Us online and international business. Prior to joining the toy giant, he was vice-chairman of  Target Corp., where he founded target.com, and ran the chain’s grocery business.  

St. Petersburg, Florida - The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners, in their Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund, have recently purchased two shopping centers:  Causeway Shopping Center in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and Springdale Shopping Center in Austin, Texas.     FREP now owns five shopping centers, and the joint venture is actively seeking additional investments in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast.