Mass Merchant

NEW YORK — In what appears to be a case of back-pedaling to alleviate concerns of her devoted fanbase, Lady Gaga's deal to sell a special edition of her upcoming album at Target is off.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla . -- Stein Mart announced that its costume and sterling jewelry buyer, Lori Cassidy, was named to the 2011 Merchants Hall of Fame by the trade publication Accessories magazine.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- An online order and same-day pick up service will be expanded to all Walmart stores beginning this month, the company announced. The “Pick-Up Today” service allows shoppers who make a purchase online to pick up their merchandise within about four hours if the order is placed before 6 p.m. Orders place after that time are available for pick up the next day before 10 a.m.

Shareholders of Wal-Mart de Mexico elected three new female board members at the company’s annual meeting yesterday, bringing to six the number of women on the company’s eleven-member board.

The new members include Shelley Broader, chief merchandising officer of Walmart Canada, Olga Gonzalez, Walmart’s VP audit services for Latin America and Kristin Oliver, SVP people for the Walmart International division. Other women on the board include Cathy Smith, Blanca Trevino and Kristin Oliver.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Thursday praised Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for signing the e-Fairness legislation, which addresses the long-standing inequity in the retail sales industry between brick-and-mortar retailers and their online-only counterparts.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced Thursday that it will launch a national rollout of its “Pick Up Today” program later in March, expanding its multichannel offerings to allow shoppers to purchase items online and receive free same-day pickup at a local Walmart store.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, in a presentation at a Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference on Thursday, announced that it would open “hundreds” of smaller-format stores over the next three years.

According to Bill Simon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart U.S., the ramped-up development could be augmented by some acquisition activity, although he didn’t elaborate on specifics.

Darby, Pa. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate announced it has negotiated new new leases totaling 33,113 sq. ft. at the new Darby Town Center, located in Darby, Pa. 

The 142,000-sq.-ft., Save-A-Lot-anchored center, which had its grand opening on December 9, 2010, will also be home to a new 10,000-sq.-ft Dollar Tree. A new 3,961-sq.-ft. lease was also completed for Hair World and Popeye’s will also lease approximately 2,152 sq. ft. 

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Terranova Corp. announced the addition of Rent-A-Center to El Mercado Shopping Center, located in Hialeah, Fla.

The new store will occupy approximately 4,000 sq. ft.

El Mercado is anchored by Publix, along with Anna’s Linens, GNC, Pollo Tropical and a United States Post Office.

Union, N.Y. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has leased 29,423 sq. ft. at the River Plaza shopping center in Union, N.Y.

The Mid-Atlantic’s largest retailer of closeout, surplus and salvage merchandise, Ollie’s will open at the 177,871-sq.-ft., Home-Depot-anchored property in September of this year – filling a key anchor vacancy.