Mass Merchant

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar is expanding into California for the first time with the opening of four new stores in Ontario, Rialto, Riverside and Fontana. The company's aggressive growth plans also include 450 to 500 new stores to be opened in fiscal 2012.  

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores has acquired Australian tech start-up Grabble for an undisclosed amount. Founded in January 2010, Grabble provides retailers a point-of-service app for purchases.

The discount giant will make the company part of its recently established Walmart Labs.

 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has launched a Facebook campaign that is looking to aid local organizations that are providing such basic needs as food, shelter, clothing and baby supplies to their respective communities.

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced that Bravo! Cucina Italiana has opened at Willow Grove Park.

The 7,500-sq.-ft. restaurant is the first of its kind in the region, according to PREIT.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R'Us will be the exclusive retailer of an assortment of toys inspired by Happy Feet 2, RetailingToday.com learned Friday.

Toys available only at Toys"R"Us include talking plush dolls from Thinkway Toys. The 12-inch stuffed birds say phrases from the film when their left wings are pressed. Characters, which are sold separately include Erik, Ramon, Sven and Atticus.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle announced that USA Grande Promenade Management chose the firm to lease and manage Grande Promenade, a 202,000-sq.-ft., multi-level, mixed-use property in Charlotte, N.C.

The new assignment brings Jones Lang LaSalle’s retail portfolio in North Carolina to nearly 1.4 million sq. ft. of space.

Scarsdale, N.Y. -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said that Athleta, a division of Gap, has signed a lease for 5,833 sq. ft. to build and operate one of its first suburban stores in New York at Vernon Hills Shopping Center in Scarsdale/Eastchester, N.Y.

A spring 2012 opening is planned.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it has urged the Senate to approve legislation that would help create jobs by making it quicker for citizens of Brazil, China and India to obtain visas needed to travel to the United States on business or to shop in U.S. stores.