Discount Store

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management L.P. and Garrison Investment Group, through their affiliates, have acquired Chapel Hills Mall, located in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Chapel Hills Mall is a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. enclosed super-regional mall anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Sears, Dicks Sporting Goods and Burlington Coat Factory, and features a 15-screen Carmike Cinema and over 100 specialty stores.

 NEW YORK  — A sluggish economy, cool weather and high prices at the pump tempered retail sales in May, as retailers reported mixed results for the month. Retail Metrics projected an increase of 5.1% for the 25 chains tracked, which would mark the 21st straight monthly gain from September 2009.

Retailers who turned in strong performances in May included Macy’s, with a 7.4% rise in same-store sales when a 5.6% increase was expected. The company lifted its full-year same-stores sales estimate.

New York City -- A sluggish economy, cool weather and high prices at the pump tempered retail sales in May, as retailers reported mixed results for the month. Retail Metrics projected an increase of 5.1% for the 25 chains tracked, which would mark the 21st straight monthly gain from September 2009.

Among the May standouts was Costco Wholesale Corp., with a 13% rise in same-store sales. Analysts were expecting an 11.2% increase. However, without gasoline sales and beneficial foreign exchange rates, Costco’s same-store sales would have been 7%.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A report Thursday by the Associated Press said that Wal-Mart Stores executives met Thursday to discuss the proposed Massmart acquisition, which is expected to close in June.

According to the report, as Wal-Mart expands its international business, the company wants to bring ideas it gains from the South African chain to other markets.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's on Thursday reported sales of $143.5 million for the four weeks ended May 28, up 1%. Comparable-store sales for the month rose 0.2%, compared with an increase of 3.5% in the same period last year.

Chicago -- Transwestern’s Chicago Retail Advisory Services team said Wednesday it represented Tuesday Morning in five transactions across the Chicagoland area totaling 95,416 sq. ft.

Sales and profits continued to pile up at the nation’s largest dollar store operator during the first quarter as shoppers sought value at the retailer’s 9,500 stores.

The company reported a 5.4% increase in same-store sales and said total sales increased 10.9% to $3.45 billion during the quarter ended April 29. Profits adjusted to account for several one-time items increased 14% to $166 million, while earnings per share of 48 centers were two cents shy of analysts’ consensus estimate due to gross margins pressures.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. reported Wednesday that profit for the quarter ended April 29 surged 15% to $157 million, compared with $136 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 11% to $3.45 billion from $3.11 billion, beating Wall Street expectations of $3.42 billion. Same-store sales climbed 5.4%.

The discounter plans to open about 625 new stores and to remodel or relocate 550 stores in 2011. Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $550 million to $600 million, according to Dollar General.