Retail

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. reported Friday a loss of $28.4 million for the quarter ended Feb. 2, compared with a profit of $24 million in the year-ago period. Results, impacted by costs associated with the company’s November 2012 IPO, edged analysts’ expectations.

Revenue surged 30% to $398.1 million from $305.2 million last year, beating Wall Street’s forecast of $390.5 million. Same-store sales advanced a hefty 26%.

Houston -- Francesca's Holdings Corp. said Friday it has appointed Laurie Ann Goldman and Joseph O'Leary to its board of directors, effective April 17.

Goldman is CEO of shapewear brand Spanx. Earlier in her career, she held marketing positions at R.H. Macy and Maison Blanche Stores.    

O'Leary is EVP merchandising, marketing, supply chain and strategic planning for PetSmart.

Washington, D.C. -- Combined Properties announced that Scott Kend has joined the company as senior director of development & acquisitions, charged with leading Combined's efforts to acquire new value-add retail shopping centers and mixed-use development projects on the West Coast.  

Kend will also be responsible for redeveloping portions of Combined's portfolio of retail centers in the Southern California region, as well as working on its mixed-use developments.  

Knoxville, Tenn. -- CHM said that its Northshore Town Center mixed-use property will add First Tennessee Bank and ORNL Federal Credit Union to its tenant roster.

The two financial institutions will join fast-casual pizza restaurant Uncle Maddio’s, scheduled to open its first Tennessee location at Northshore Town Center later this spring.

New York -- Following unanimous approval in March by the New York City Council for the redevelopment of Pier 17, The Howard Hughes Corp. said it has named RKF as the exclusive consultant and leasing agent for the South Street Seaport.

New York -- Uniqlo will be the exclusive, multi-year, corporate sponsor of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Museum’s Friday night free admission program, which provides free access to the public to the Museum and all exhibitions from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., every Friday, throughout the year.
 
“Uniqlo Free Friday Nights” will launch on May 3. That evening, the first 1,000 visitors will receive a special Uniqlo tote bag. Also in May, the Museum will begin extending its public schedule to seven days per week.

London -- A Thursday report by Bloomberg said that retail sales in the U.K. fell a more-than-expected 0.8% (excluding fuel) in March compared to February, impacted by unseasonably cold weather and a still-sluggish economy.

New York -- The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that J.C. Penney is now in talks with Wells Fargo and at least two other investment firms, seeking a $500 million loan to shore up the beleaguered retailer’s cash reserves.

Citing unidentified sources, WSJ said that Penney is also in talks with private-equity firm TPG and with investment company Gordon Brothers, along with Wells Fargo, as Penney casts a wider net to stay afloat.