Mass Merchant

Shoppers will take for granted that the products they buy are safe this holiday season, but behind scenes it requires a tremendous amount of effort to deliver on that expectation. Join Walmart, the Consumer Products Safety Commission and ICIX for a look at what’s next in the world of product safety during an upcoming webinar on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m., EST.

Cullman, Ala. -- Merchants Retail Partners announced a milestone achievement for revitalized Cullman Shopping Center in Cullman, Alabama. The center recently reopened 100% leased with more than 400,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Bismarck, N.D. -- The Woodmont Company and Northwest Contracting announce the completion and opening of the first phase of development of Hay Creek Shops in Bismarck, North Dakota. Hay Creek Shops is a regional power center on 33 acres that once complete will total more than 300,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants.

One of the retail industry’s true innovators, Staples co-founder Tom Stemberg, passed away on Friday at the age of 66.


Stemberg, who died at home after a two-year battle with gastric cancer, was considered the father of the office superstore format. With the backing of Bain Capital and its co-founder, Mitt Romney, he co-founded Staples in 1986, and went on to lead the company through a period of rapid growth to dominate the office products industry.

One of the retail industry’s true innovators, Staples co-founder Tom Stemberg, passed away on Friday at the age of 66.


Century 21 Department Store will bring its high-fashions and low prices to a new location in the suburbs.

The company will open an approximately 70,000-sq.-ft., two-level store at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York, on the South Shore of Long Island. The location will be the company’s tenth location.

Veteran apparel retailer Tracy Gardner will join the Gap Inc. board, effective Nov. 11.

Gap has relied on Gardner on multiple occasions the past 25 years as an employee and advisor. Gardner worked at the company from 1991 to 1994 in various creative roles and from 1998 to 2004 in senior leadership positions, including head of Gap adult merchandising. This past year she served as an advisor to the Gap brand and functioned in a similar role in 2012.

Fresh & Easy, which opened its first store in 2007 and was U.K. giant Tesco’s first U.S. venture, is closing its stores, the Los Angeles Times reported. The chain, which was never able to gain a foothold in the competitive U.S. grocery market, filed Chapter 11 in 2013, and was acquired by grocery billionaire Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. with a loan from Tesco. [Los Angeles Times]