Mass Merchant

Consumers are doing even more holiday shopping from their desktop computers this year, according to a new report from comScore.

The Internet analytics company reports that U.S. consumer spending from desktop computers for the first 44 days of the November-December 2014 holiday shopping season is up 15% from last year, to $42.5 billion.

New York City - The International Council of Shopping Centers has named 12 shopping centers as winners of its 2014 U.S. Design and Development Awards competition.  ICSC’s U.S. Design and Development Awards are designed to recognize outstanding projects for excellence in the creation of new retail projects, and in the expansion or redevelopment of existing projects, solely within the continental United States.   

Toronto  - Hudson’s Bay Co. has named Gerald Storch, the former CEO of Toys “R” Us, as its new CEO, effective January 6.  An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Storch oversaw the expansion of Toys “R” Us online and international business. Prior to joining the toy giant, he was vice-chairman of  Target Corp., where he founded target.com, and ran the chain’s grocery business.  

St. Petersburg, Florida - The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners, in their Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund, have recently purchased two shopping centers:  Causeway Shopping Center in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and Springdale Shopping Center in Austin, Texas.     FREP now owns five shopping centers, and the joint venture is actively seeking additional investments in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast.    

Lakewood, Colorado - Colorado Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the state, in conjunction with the full-priced Denver West Village located on the Colorado Mills campus, is introducing a Dine and Discover program, allowing restaurant goers to Colorado Mills or Denver West Village participating eateries to claim gift cards for continued shopping at some of Colorado Mills’ retail store.  

Hudson’s Bay Co. has looked to a Toys “R” Us veteran as its pick for its next CEO effective Jan. 5, although current CEO Richard Baker will stay on as governor and executive chairman of the retailing company.

Gerald Storch, an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, oversaw the expansion of Toys “R” Us online and international business. Prior to joining the toy giant, he was vice chairman of Target Corp., where he founded Target.com, and ran the chain’s grocery business. 

Walmart has announced the 75 winners of its Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign, which gifts a food pantry organization with a $20,000 grant for renovations. 

Mansfield, Connecticut - Charter Realty and Development has leased space at the East Brook Mall in Mansfield, Connecticut, to Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree has taken 9,733 sq. ft. and will be joining anchor tenants Kohl’s, Dress Barn, TJ Maxx, Michael’s, Olympia Sports, Radio Shack, and Applebee’s.   The 151,377-sq.-ft. center has signalized access from Route 195 (Storrs Road) and services 34,000 student, faculty and staff members of the University of Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut State University.