Mass Merchant

Albany, Ore. -- Vintage Real Estate said that it has signed a lease with Hobby Lobby for a 61,000-sq.-ft. store at the Heritage Mall, marking the arts-and-crafts retailer’s first location in Oregon.

Hobby Lobby will be located in a former Gottschalks space.  It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. “Our ability to quickly fill this long-vacant space is a major step in the execution of our renovation and repositioning plans for Heritage Mall,” said general manager Betsy Penson.

CHICAGO — Cause Marketing Forum on Wednesday named America’s Checkout Charity Champions, a first-of-its-kind study ranking the largest consumer checkout donations in the United States last year.

Queens, N.Y. -- South Korean skin care brand Amore has opened a 1,600-sq.-ft. store at The Shops at SkyView Center. The new store, which grand-opened on May 24, is located on Level B and joins Restoration Hardware Outlet, Target, Carter’s, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Marshall’s, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy, among others.

TORONTO — Loft will open four new store locations in Ontario, Canada, following the retailer's initial foray into the Great White North late last year at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.

The retailer also introduced e-commerce into its new Canadian market in March.

Chicago -- Ebay, Walmart and McDonalds are tops when it comes to in-store charity donations, according to a study by Cause Marketing Forum that ranked the largest consumer donations at the point-of-sale last year. More than $358 million was raised in 2012 through a total of 63 corporate-backed charity checkout campaigns identified by Cause Marketing.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Beachwood, Ohio-based DDR Corp. has announced the opening of Belgate Shopping Center, the company's first ground-up domestic development in over four years.

Belgate is a 100% leased, 900,000-sq.-ft. prime power center located in Charlotte, N.C., anchored by Ikea, Walmart and a complimentary lineup of junior anchors including Marshalls, Ulta, Old Navy, Petco, Cost Plus World Market, Hobby Lobby and Shoe Carnival.

Lyndhurst, N.J. -- Crossroads Cos. has been named leasing agent and property manager for Veterans Square Shopping Center, located on New York Avenue in Lyndhurst, N.J.

The 144,400-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center’s tenant roster includes a free-standing ShopRite, Home Goods and a mix of national, regional and neighborhood businesses.