Large Chains

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Jacksonville, Fla., at Plantation Plaza to Panache: An Aveda Salon.   

The full-service salon leased 2,992 sq. ft. of retail space, bringing the center to 93% leased. The salon, its second in the area, is slated to open spring 2011.

The 77,747-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Publix alongside national retailers such as Great Clips, Wendy’s and TCBY.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Fortune on Thursday released its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, ranking Wegmans Food Markets No. 3 and making the New York-based grocer the highest-ranked retailer. Only the software firm SAS and consulting organization Boston Consulting Group ranked higher. Wegmans has appeared on the Fortune list for 14 consecutive years, every year since the list was first published in 1998.

Belgium -- Belgian supermarket operator Delhaize Group said Thursday it plans to spend $1.21 billion opening new stores and remodeling existing outlets.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Delhaize, which operates mainly under the U.S. Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweet Bay banners, is making the investments despite a fourth quarter same-store sales decline of 0.8%.

Wal-Mart Stores earlier this week denied rumors that it would consider opening banks in Chile and Argentina.

The reports are “completely untrue,” Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Gardner told Bloomberg in an e-mailed response to questions.

Lexington, N.C. -- Grocery retailer Save-A-Lot announced Thursday it will break ground on a new 325,000-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Lexington, N.C.

The center is expected to open by December 2011. It is the result of collaboration with the state of North Carolina and its One North Carolina Fund, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Davidson County and the City of Lexington.

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group said that Dollar Tree has signed a lease to expand and relocate its store within the Temple Terrace Shopping Center, located in Tampa, Fla.

Dollar Tree will relocate to the vacant former Save-A-Lot unit, increasing the size of its store from 7,992 sq. ft. to 14,425 sq. ft.

The new store will open under the chain’s Deal$ concept, which sells some items for more than $1, offering merchandise that Dollar Tree does not sell under the $1 restricted price of its primary stores.

MONTVALE, N.J. - A&P announced that sales for the third quarter were $1.8 billion versus $2 billion in last fiscal year’s third quarter. Comparable-store sales decreased 4.9%. The company reported that loss from continuing operations was $181 million versus last year’s third quarter reported loss from continuing operations of $502 million.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Jacksonville, Fla., at Shoppes at Bartram Park to Jacksonville Running Co.

Specializing in the sale of running footwear and apparel, Jacksonville Running Co. has leased 1,600 sq. ft., bringing the center to 94% leased.

The tenant is slated to open for business in the spring.

The 119,376-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Publix alongside The UPS Store, Massage Envy, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Panera Bread.

Coconut Creek, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Coconut Creek, Fla., at Caligo Crossing to The Chill Thrill.

A self-serve frozen yogurt and ice cream store, The Chill Thrill has leased 1,300 sq. ft. and is slated to open in April.

The 108,927-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Kohl’s.

Chicago -- Walgreens’ massive Customer Centric Retailing initiative is transforming the way the company’s stores are merchandised and designed as it rolls into an ever-larger proportion of its more than 7,600 stores across the United States. But it’s only the opening drive in a campaign to “reinvent the customer experience in our stores,” president and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders Wednesday.