eCommerce

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Bicycle retailer BikeStreet announced the appointment of former Hhgregg executive VP & COO Gregg Throgmartin as CEO. With 17 shops opened since the brand’s founding in 2012, BikeShop aims to acquire and/or open nearly 1,000 shops across the nation under Throgmartin’s leadership.   
 

Austin, Texas -- Whole Food Market will purchase four stores from New Frontiers Natural Marketplace. The stores, which average 22,000 sq. ft., are located in Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona, Ariz.; and San Luis Obispo, Calif. The two companies expect the transaction to be finalized in the next few weeks.

The stores will continue to operate under the New Frontiers Natural Marketplace banner until they are re-signed as Whole Foods Market stores.

Quincy, Mass. — The Grossman Cos. and Summit Development LLC have joined forces to acquire a 5,728-sq.-ft. retail building in Westport, Conn., for $2.7 million.

Located in one of Fairfield County’s most affluent towns, the building is adjacent to the Westport Metro North train station and offers easy access to an exit from Interstate 95.

Approximately 131,000 vehicles pass the building on I-95 every day, followed by another 14,000 vehicles on Route 33. Average annual household income in Westport is $170,000.

Columbus, Ohio – Lane Bryant opens two new stores in Marlton, N.J., and Odessa, Texas on March 28. The New Jersey store is located at Willow Bridge Plaza and the Texas store is located at Chimney Rock.

Lane Bryant operates 775 stores nationwide and also operates an e-commerce site.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed suit with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas suing Visa for $5 billion, alleging that the financial services company overcharges on the credit and debit card swipe fees it charges retailer.

The suit claims that Visa colluded with banks to fix swipe fees between January 2004 and November 2012, forcing it to raise prices and reduce customer service, resulting in lost retail sales.

Westmont, Ill. — Tri-Land Properties has announced that it expects to complete a $21 million renovation of its 20-acre Fridley Market community center by September. Fridley Market is located at the intersection of I-694 and University Avenue, the main north/south spine through Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The renovation of the 165,000-sq.-ft. center includes building, infrastructure, lighting and pavement improvements as well as new construction.

The Crayola Store envelops customers of all ages in a world of color and fun, immersive experiences while celebrating the breadth of Crayola’s product collection.

Cortre Madera, Calif. – Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. (RH) swung to a profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 amid ongoing sales growth. The retailer posted net earnings of $26.64 million, compared to a net loss of $28.36 in the year-ago period.

Net revenues grew 18.5% to $471.69 million, from $398.05 million. Same-store sales grew 17%.