Mass Merchant

New York -- From extreme-value discounters to c-store operators, retailers across the board are expanding their brick-and-mortar portfolios in 2015. Here’s a review:

• Dollar General will open 730 new stores and remodel 875 existing locations.

• DSW Inc. will open 35 stores, including locations in at least 12 new markets.

• Express is ramping up its new outlet format with 30 locations.

In a break from tradition, Walmart is hosting an investor meeting in New York on April 1 with the new team of top executives who are driving the latest round of changes at the retailer’s U.S. business.

A 90 minutes session scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EST on April 1 at the New York Stock Exchange will be hosted by Walmart U.S. President and CEO Greg Foran.

Atlanta -- GBT Realty Corporation acquired a 1.7-acre site in East Cobb County, Atlanta, at the intersection of Roswell Road and East Cobb Drive near Johnson Ferry Road. Currently the site of a 10,240-sq.-ft. building occupied by Chuck E. Cheese’s, the firm plans to redevelop the parcel with demolition slated this spring.  

GBT acquired the site from Empress Theatres for $1.65 million. No additional terms were disclosed.

Walmart recognized multimodal logistics provider C.H. Robinson with the retailer’s first-ever award for third party logistics providers.

C.H. Robinson said it received the Third Party Logistical (3PL) Carrier of the Year award for 2014 due to contributions for outstanding service, effective communication and providing solutions and innovations in a changing industry.

GameStop’s strongest growth in 2015 will have little to do with gaming as the company plans to open between 350 to 550 stores in technology brands segment while paring its GameStop store presence.

The company’s technology brands segment is comprised of 361 ATT&T brand stores, 63 Cricket branded stores that offer wireless products and services and 60 Simply Mac Stores. Meanwhile, the company has indicated it will close 3%, or nearly 200 of its approximately 6,000 traditional video game stores.

Amazon is accelerating the expansion of its one-hour delivery servcie with a rollout of the program in Dallas.

The e-commerce giant started its Prime Now rapid delivery service in December in parts of Manhattan, and expanded to Baltimore and Miami this month.

The ultra-fast service initially launched as a benefit for Prime members.

Boston -- Cushman & Wakefield announced the sale of South Cape Village in Mashpee, Massachusetts, to Dividend Capital. The Cushman & Wakefield team oversaw the $35.45 million transaction of the Roche Brothers-anchored lifestyle center on behalf of Mashpee Investors, LLC.    

The mall is certainly not dead in Puerto Rico, where Taubman Centers Inc. held the grand opening for the Mall of San Juan on Thursday.

The island's first upscale shopping center features a singular collection of retailers, more than 60% of which are unique-to-market and the Caribbean's only Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. The 650,000-square-foot shopping center was developed through a partnership between Taubman and New Century Development, Inc.