Mass Merchant

In the Feb. 24 edition of SiteTalk, we asked you about Borders'just-announced Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closures, and to what retailers you thought some of that prime real estate would go. Here is what two of our readers had to say:

"[I think they will go to] regional furniture chains [Value City] and regional electronics such as Hhgregg."
-- Joe Deckop
Columbus Consulting
Columbus, Ohio

Tampa, Fla. -- Woolbright Development said that Stuart Segall has been named a leasing agent for the company, and is responsible for leasing shopping centers in Tampa, Brandon and Tallahassee.

Segall was previously with Florida Retail Partners in Tampa.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.