Mass Merchant

NEW YORK — A New York state Supreme Court filing on Monday disclosed that Macy’s Inc. is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. for breach of contract after Martha Stewart set up a new deal last December with JCPenney to sell products at its stores.

West Chester, Ohio -- Ikea said Tuesday that it has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its Cincinnati-area store in West Chester, Ohio. 

The 128,000-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 1,026-kW system, built with 4,186 panels. Ikea West Chester’s program will produce approximately 1,334,300 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,014 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 180 cars or powering 115 homes yearly.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores said Tuesday it has appointed Brendan L. Hoffman as president and CEO, effective Feb. 7.

Hoffman replaces Bud Bergren, who is a current member of the board of directors and who will transition to the role of the chairman.

Madison, Miss. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced that Michaels would join the second phase of The Forum at Grandview, a community center in Madison, Miss.

Construction for the 83,000-sq.-ft. second phase is currently underway. In addition to Michaels, anchors will include Ulta, Homegoods, and Petco as well as 14,000 sq. ft. of specialty stores. The opening of phase II is scheduled for summer 2012.

New York City -- Sabre Real Estate Group said it has arranged a lease for the first Orangetheory Fitness Studio on Long Island.

The lease with landlord Federal Realty Investment Trust is for 3,480 sq. ft. at the Huntington Square Mall, located in East Northport and anchored by Sears and Barnes & Noble. The studio is expected to open in February.

Orangetheory Fitness has plans to open as many as 30 studios in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. 
 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers Corp. announced changes in its executive management team. Bruce Johnson, executive VP and CFO has announced that he will retire at the end of 2012. Effective with his retirement, Lisa Palmer, senior VP of capital markets, will succeed him as CFO.

Fashion phenom or design darling. Whatever you call Jason Wu, he’s got a new line coming to Target Feb. 5 that could be a big deal on several levels.

NAPLES, Fla. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association has appointed new members to its board of directors, including a new board chairman.

RILA said Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel was appointed RILA chairman of the board. Steinhafel, who previously served as vice chairman, succeeds Bill Rhodes, who currently serves as chairman, president and CEO of AutoZone.