Supermarket/Grocery

Chicago -- Although the first government shutdown in 17 years lasted 16 days, it left an impact on more than just the workers sent home after lawmakers failed to arrive at a deal to end the spending and debt stalemate. Total retail store shopper traffic during the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 decreased 7.5% compared to the same time period last year, according to ShopperTrak, a leading provider of shopper analytics.

The Washington, D.C. area saw an even greater decrease, with an 11.4% decline in year-over-year shopper traffic the week of Oct. 6-12.

Dallas – Four-in-10 (43%) of U.S. smartphone users purchased a good via their device in the last month. The new Parks Associates study “Mobile Commerce: Keys to Mass Adoption” also shows that 54% of Target shoppers have used their smartphone to make an in-store purchase in the last month, compared to 38% of Wal-Mart customers.

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Pleasanton, Calif. – The board of directors of Safeway Inc. has increased the authorized level of the company's stock repurchase program by $2 billion. Through the end of the third quarter of 2013, Safeway had approximately $800 million remaining under its previously authorized stock repurchase program.

New York -- With a late Thanksgiving and the shortest holiday shopping season in years, consumers report they are starting their holiday shopping sooner and spending more this year, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research. The report is more optimistic than some other holiday forecasts.

Austin, Texas — CBRE’s National Retail Investment Group has announced the sale of The Market at Parmer Lane on behalf of LPC Retail, a division of Dallas-based Lincoln Property Company. The buyer is a Texas-based private real estate fund advised by Crow Holdings Capital Partners. Terms were undisclosed.

H-E-B Grocery anchors the 122,349-sq.-ft. center, which is 93.3% occupied.

 

Medford, Mass. — A joint venture between Charter Realty & Development Corp. and Regency Centers Corporation has acquired Fellsway Plaza in Medford, Mass. The joint venture acquired the 150,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center, anchored by a recently constructed Stop & Shop, from Berenson Associates of Boston. PNC Bank provided permanent and development financing. Commercial Property Group represented the joint venture in the transaction.

New York — Representing the landlord, RKF has arranged an 18,817-sq.-ft. lease with family-owned grocer Westside Market at 84 Third Avenue in Manhattan’s East Village. When the new grocery opens next summer, it will become the fifth Westside Market location in Manhattan.

The new Westside Market will span 10,500 sq. ft. on the ground level, with the remaining space in the lower level. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Retail represented the Westside Market in the transaction.

New York -- Specialty beverage retailer BevMo! Named Douglas J. Ratto as executive VP, chief merchant. Ratto will lead the buying, planning, allocations and distribution teams at BevMo!

Ratto comes to BevMo! with more than 25 years of retail and marketing management experience. Since 2010, Doug served at Safeway as senior VP, GM of alcohol/tobacco, home care/general merchandise & family care.

 

It’s one down and more than 11,000 to go as Dollar General has opened its first ever fueling station at a store in Hanceville, Ala.

The pilot project is part of an agreement with Mansfield Oil, a provider of fuel supply, distribution, delivery, and dispensing solutions. The store in question is one of Dollar General’s larger format Market stores which include expanded food and consumables. Dollar General operates more than 11,000 stores nationwide, but slightly more than 100 units are in the Market format.