Discount Store

Huntington, N.Y. -- Oak Brook, Ill.-based Inland Private Capital Corp. announced Wednesday the $40.2 million sale of Huntington Square Plaza, a grocery-anchored shopping center located in Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island.

Toronto-based RioCan Holdings purchased the 116,221-sq.-ft. center, which Inland Private Capital Corp. offered to a group of private tenant-in-common investors in 2004.

NEW YORK — Kmart is changing its approach to fashion with a new campaign focused on individual style rather than name brands or trends. The campaign, titled "Money can't buy style," will debut this fall and will feature non-actors in Kmart looks they've created themselves.

PLANO, Texas  — JCPenney said Tuesday that its veteran marketing chief Mike Boylson has retired from the company. His successor will be selected by newly minted CEO Ron Johnson in what will be the former Apple executive’s first senior-level appointment at JCPenney.

Boylson was with the department store chain for more than three decades, the last eight years as chief marketing officer. He said in June he would retire from the company on July 1, according to a JCPenney spokeswoman.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots announced Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of Brantford, Ontario-based Liquidation World, representing Big Lots’ first foothold outside of the United States.

Closeout retailer Liquidation World currently operates 89 stores in Canada.

I’m not shedding any tears over the demise of Borders and neither is anyone else in the retail industry. It’s just business.

There are always a few sentimental customers who turn up with a choice quote or two in the formulaic media eulogies that appear whenever a retailer goes under, but those customers will just have to find somewhere else to sip coffee and read books for free.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers’ Pleasant Hill (Calif.) Shopping Center has more going for it than a vibrant market and a strong anchor lineup. Ross Dress for Less has debuted in the 234,000-sq.-ft. center with its 1,000th store location.

Ross’s new 30,000-sq.-ft. store opened on July 16, bringing Pleasant Hill to 99% occupancy. Other tenants include Target, Toys “R” Us and Barnes & Noble Booksellers alongside national retailers including Men’s Wearhouse, Payless ShoeSource, GameStop, Metro PCS and soon-to-open In-N-Out Burger.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots has acquired 89 Liquidation World stores in Canada and becomes the latest U.S. retailer to pursue growth opportunities north of the border.

The company said it invested $20 million in cash and assumed certain liabilities in order to purchase all outstanding shares, satisfy debt obligations, and acquire all assets and leasehold rights of Liquidation World, an operator of 89 stores offering closeout merchandise. Big Lots currently operates 1,405 stores in the United States.

Prices were cut on 1,500 items at Target.com last Friday as the retailer executed an online-only Black Friday in July promotion. It was the second consecutive year Target conducted the event which, despite the name, pales in comparison to the real Black Friday, which is an operational nightmare and features extreme discounts on prices retailers would rather not get in the habit of offering at other times of the year.