Mass Merchant

The demise of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. elevated the retail vacancy rate along central New Jersey’s major shopping corridors to 8.8% from 7.5% in 2014.

That’s according to the latest study by R.J. Brunelli & Co. Despite the uptick, the region’s 2015 vacancy factor remained a healthy distance from the 10.2% recorded in 2013 and the eight-year high of 10.5% set in 2011, but was well above the period’s low point of 4.8% posted in 2008.

At CVS Health’s annual Analyst Day held Wednesday here, Helena Foulkes, CVS/pharmacy president, shared significant details on the progress CVS Health has made to drive growth in its stores.

Vineland, N.J. -- PREIT announced its plans to open a Dick's Sporting Goods at Cumberland Mall in Vineland, New Jersey. The sports and fitness retailer will occupy the former J.C. Penney Department Store space in a 50,000 sq. ft. location.

“This transaction demonstrates PREIT's continued success in replacing anchors with in-demand retailers,” states Joseph F. Coradino, CEO for PREIT "The addition of Dick's Sporting Goods will improve the merchandise mix and solidify the tenant roster at Cumberland Mall.”

CVS Health has completed its acquisition of Target’s pharmacy and clinic business for approximately $1.9 billion, the two companies announced Wednesday.

This month, Target began contacting its Pharmacy Rewards members to informing them that the company was ending the rewards program because CVS/pharmacy will bring its own program when it replaces the pharmacies in Target stores as part of a deal between the two companies announced this summer.

Denton, Texas -- The Weitzman Group announced it’s brokered a deal with Francesca's for 1,200 sq. ft. of retail space in Golden Triangle Mall, located in Denton, Texas. This will be Francesca’s first location in Denton.

Blake Shipp with the Commercial Retail Division of The Weitzman Group and Paul Burridge with MGHerring Group handled negotiations for the mall. Robert J. Wright with Collett Southwest represented the retailer.

Home Depot, Amazon.com and Safeway are tops when it comes to offering the best mobile commerce experience according to a new study that benchmarks 20 top U.S. retailers against one another.

Youngstown, Ohio -- Cafaro Company announced off-price home fashion retailer HomeGoods is the latest addition to the Millcreek Mall Complex located in Youngstown, Ohio. This new 25,000 sq. ft. store will open its doors in the summer of 2016 in the Millcreek Pavilion section of the complex, next to Michael’s.