Mass Merchant

In his newest column, Retail Rap with Jeff Green, Chain Store Age columnist Green examines the early uptick in medical users in retail centers and questions why the trend has apparently stalled.

Click here to read his latest editorial. 

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced Friday that its U.K.-based Asda unit has promoted Judity McKenna to the position of COO.

McKenna is currently Asda’s finance director.

New York City -- Centro Properties Group announced the recent lease execution for two Ulta stores; an 11,000-sq.-ft. store will be joining Lakes Crossing, located in Muskegon, Mich., and a 10,895-sq.-ft. store will open at Florence Square, directly across from Florence Mall in Florence, Ky.

New York City-based Centro Properties Group owns both shopping centers.
 

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said Thursday that it is disappointed in the final debit card swipe-fee regulations set by the Federal Reserve.

Under the new rule, the current debit card swipe-fee rate of 1%-2% of each transaction will be replaced with a flat fee of not more than 21 cents per transaction for the nation’s largest banks -- substantially higher than the flat fee of up to 12 cents the Fed originally proposed in December 2010.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that it plans to open its first Gap store in Egypt this July and its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Morocco this October. These store openings will mark the company’s first entry into Africa.

As part of an existing franchise agreement with The Fawaz Al Hokair Group, Gap will open its first Egyptian store in the Mall of Arabia in the capital city of Cairo. Two additional Gap stores will open at Cairo’s City Stars Mall and Sun City Mall this October.

Orlando, Fla. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said that Bealls will open a new department store at Loop West, located in the southern portion of the Orlando, Fla., market.

Loop West, along with adjacent center The Loop, make up an 840,000-sq.-ft. shopping complex housing 14 specialty anchors and 55 shops, services and eateries. Anchors include Kohl’s, J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW Shoes, Regal Cinema and more.

Teen apparel retailer rue21 is celebrating the opening of its 700th store, in New Braunfels, Texas. The chain is on track to open 110 locations this year. Commented president and CEO Bob Fisch: “We remain one of the fastest growing retailers in the nation. I would like to thank our real estate, construction and field teams and recognize their hard work, which allows us to celebrate another significant milestone for rue21."
 

With sales experiencing the peaks and valleys of a slowly recovering economy, retailers are watching their customers even closer than ever.

According to a study by accounting and consulting firm BDO USO, LLP, New York City, retailers have been less concerned in 2011 about consumer confidence and spending and, instead, are more watchful of consumer demand and interest.