Discount Store

SALISBURY, N.C. — Discount grocery chain Bottom Dollar Food announced plans to enter the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets.

The expansion includes 14 stores that will open in 2012 and is said to create more than 600 jobs.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Costa Mesa, Calif.-based shopping center developer Donahue Schriber announced it has successfully completed the final piece of a $1.2 billion balance sheet recapitalization.

The recapitalization occurred through several transactions.  The final piece was a $365 million refinance with a bank syndicate led by Bank of America and also included Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, PNC Bank, Union Bank and City National Bank. 

By Michael Havdala, [email protected]

When the Circuit City and Linens N’ Things spaces began to go dark in 2008, many landlords wondered who would step up to take their places. These concerns only deepened as the economic downturn cast doubt over retail leasing prospects.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Discount grocery chain Bottom Dollar Food announced Monday plans to enter the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets.

The expansion includes 14 stores that will open in 2012 and slated to create more than 600 jobs.

American consumers may not like inflation, but retailers are enjoying the favorable impact rising prices have on their same-store sales calculations. It was evident last month when most retailers reported healthy comp increases, and more of the same could be in store for July as it appears retailers are effectively passing through increased prices to shoppers.

New Delhi, India -- A Monday report by Bloomberg said that an Indian governmental panel recommended easing market-entry restrictions, making Wal-Mart Stores’ and Carrefour SA’s path into the India retail market potentially much easier.

Citing a finance ministry official as its source, Bloomberg reported that a panel of New Delhi bureaucrats recommended on Friday that overseas companies be allowed to own up to 51% of stores that sell more than one brand if they invest a minimum of $100 million.

New Milford, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has arranged a lease for 28,000 sq. ft. for a HomeGoods store in the Kohls Plaza, located in New Milford, Conn.

HomeGoods will be a part of Litchfield Crossings, which is a new, 282,000-sq.-ft. development that is being built by Scalzo Realty.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. announced Monday that Kathleen Guion, division president of store operations and store development, will retire from the company effective July 31, 2012.

According to Dollar General, during her tenure Guion oversaw more than 9,500 stores in 35 states and revamped the company’s real estate strategy. Before assuming her current role in November 2005, Guion served as executive VP store operations. Prior to joining Dollar General in 2003, she served as president and CEO of Duke and Long Distributing Co.