Mass Merchant

Walmart displayed a powerful commitment to revitalizing U.S. manufacturing this week when the company convened its first ever domestic sourcing summit.

Not only was the event a first for Walmart, it was also unlike anything the retail industry has ever seen. Roughly 1,500 supplier company representatives, government and economic development officials, Walmart’s top executives and dozens of senior merchants participated in the three hour summit held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

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.

Sweet! Hollywood, at the Hollywood & Highland Center, in Hollywood, Calif., is sure to appeal to anyone in need of a sugar rush. The candy megastore features more than 200 types of gummy candies, 140 flavors of chewing gum, 250 types of lollipops, 300 different chocolate bars and more.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hibbett Sports reported a weaker-than-expected comparable-store sales increase of 0.3% for the second quarter ended Aug. 3, compared to a 4.8% increase in the prior-year period.

Last year's second quarter benefited from the extra week in the fiscal calendar which resulted in approximately $12 million of sales.

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.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR Corp. has announced that a joint venture formed with an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII L.P. has closed on the acquisition of a portfolio of seven prime shopping centers totaling 2.4 million sq. ft. The assets are located in supply constrained MSA’s including Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington D.C., Portland, Harrisburg, Pa., and Cincinnati.

Mount Vernon, Ill. — Hobby Lobby has signed a lease for 52,729 sq. ft. at Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon, Ill., and plans to open in the first quarter of next year, according to Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC.

Pine Tree owns the 269,328-sq.-ft. center, anchored in partnership with The Sansone Group and Wanxiang America Real Estate Group.

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.