Mass Merchant

Neptune/6th, a redevelopment of the former site of Trump Village Shopping Center and the Royal Palace Baths in Brooklyn’s Coney Island section, has secured leases from CVS and Apple Bank as it looks toward a summer 2017 opening of its first phase. Cammeby’s is the developer.   That phase will include 161,000 sq. ft. of retail, office, and parking in a standalone space across from the old Trump Village site. Three further phases will add 165,000 sq. ft. of retail and parking and a 575-unit residential tower.  

As Black Friday quickly approaches, it is anyone’s game on who will garner the most wallet share — clicks or bricks.    More than three-quarters (76%) of Americans plan to shop over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and they plan to spend $400 between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, a slight uptick from last year's intentions to spend $369.  

The president of Office Depot’s North American operations is stepping down.   Marc Crosby is leaving the company “to pursue other opportunities,” according to the Sun Sentinel, which cited a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No date was given for his departure.  

Levin Management president Matthew Harding says 2016 has been an especially active year for new retail leases. Over the past nine months, he reports his company handled leasing activity for more than 500,000 sq. ft. — over 400,000 sq. ft. of that in retail.   

Target Corp. is bullish on its smaller store concept.   Company CEO Brian Cornell he is “increasingly confident’ the retailer will open “hundreds of “small-format stores, USA Today reported.   We think we have the opportunity to enter many, many new neighborhoods," Cornell said on a conference call.  

As shoppers use more devices to shop their favorite brands, it is not surprising that digital shopping will drive retail holiday sales.   This message was delivered in Nielsen's 2016 holiday trend report, which tapped 1,159 adults aged 18 years and older. As of Nov. 11, online shopping was outpacing in-store visits, with 58% of shoppers already purchasing their holiday gifts online compared to 40% that went to big-box retail stores, and 25% who visited department stores.  

A majority of shoppers, 81%, intend to do most of their spending in physical stores during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend (Nov. 24-27). This total increases to 95% when you include consumers who will shop at those same physical retailers’ online channels (omnichannel retailers).   These are among the findings of the “2016 Black Friday Consumer Survey” from International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).   

Gap Inc. delivered another weak quarter as store closures outside of North America impacted its profitability and sales continue to slump at its namesake and Banana Republic divisions.   The retailer earned $204 million, or 51 cents per share, in the quarter ended Oct. 29. That compares with $248 million, or 61 cents per share, last year. Adjusted results were 60 cents per share, which matched estimates from FactSet.