Mass Merchant

In advance of the Walmart-led U.S. Manufacturing Summit held in Orlando, Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon wrote an op-ed piece for the Huffington Post titled, "Reviving U.S. Manufacturing Key to Rebuilding the Middle Class." In it, Simon alludes to the vanishing middle class — which found themselves jobless as products once produced in the U.S.

Honolulu — With 42 million visitors per year, the two million-sq.-ft. Ala Moana Center in Honolulu boasts sales per square foot of $1,300. At the beginning of the year, owner General Growth Properties began a massive $572 million redevelopment of Ala Moana — the world’s largest open-air shopping mall. The goal is to add 650,000 sq. ft. of new retail space.

NEW YORK — The Tommy Hilfiger Group enlisted actor Josh Bowman and professional surfers Kalani Robb, C.J. Kanuha and Alek Parker to participate in Autism Society San Diego's annual summer surf camp.

In June, Josh Bowman and Kalani Robb, along with Gary Sheinbaum, CEO, Tommy Hilfiger North America and InStyle Magazine fashion director Cindy Weber-Cleary, co-hosted the opening event for the newest Tommy Hilfiger store opening in San Diego’s Fashion Valley Mall, benefitting the Autism Society San Diego.

Financial network CNBC’s top anchor Maria Bartiromo took her show “Closing Bell” on the road this week to broadcast live outside the auditorium at the Orlando convention center where Walmart convened its domestic manufacturing summit.

Saint John, New Brunswick -- Walmart Canada grand-opened a 129,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Saint John, New Brunswick, on Friday, the first of nine “Maritime Supercenters” planned for the country by Jan. 31, 2014, said the retailer.

The newly redeveloped store, which signals the launch of Walmart Canada’s Maritime sourcing program for produce, features a fresh grocery section that will serve as a prototype for all Maritime supercenters.

Youngstown, Ohio — Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, has leased space to three new retailers: Panda, Boscov’s and The Children’s Place.

Panda will arrive in November with its Asian fusion menu, taking 1,500 sq. ft. Boscov’s department store will open its doors in October. So will The Children’s Place, which has leased 4,000 sq. ft.

The recently renovated Ohio Valley Mall is owned and managed in association with Cafaro affiliated companies.

Walmart’s SVP of Home Michelle Gloeckler may not have been among those on stage at the retailer’s domestic sourcing summit, but she is the one leading the execution of massive initiative.