Retail

New York — Retail brokerage firm Cohen Real Estate has added two new members to its brokerage team, augmenting the firm’s presence in New York City.

Guy Saban joins Cohen as investment sales broker, and will provide real estate advisory and investment services to buyers and sellers who are seeking to expand, optimize, and/or diversify their real estate portfolios.

Max Garelick joins as real estate associate, and will work alongside Cohen VP Michael Cleeman to market retail, mixed-use and multi-family properties in Manhattan.

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots Inc. is expanding its food selections in all of its 1,491 stores across the country. The department will feature more brand name products, improved product arrangement and well-designed signage to make shopping easier.

Tampa, Fla. -- Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, has executed its first franchise agreement in Michigan, under which a debut restaurant in Ann Arbor will open summer 2015.

Additionally, the company signed two franchise agreements for single units in Ocala, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The new deals are part of the fast-casual concept's growth strategy to expand its presence in new and existing markets nationwide.

To date, Burger 21 has 13 open locations and 25 franchised restaurants in development.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Southern department store chain Belk has promoted Jan Clevenger from chair of the company’s Western Division in Birmingham, Alabama, to the position of executive VP and general merchandise manager over Men’s, Home and Kids.

David Luoma has been promoted to succeed Clevenger in the Western Division chair position.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Nine-in-10 retailers report selling on online marketplaces, and 64% use digital marketing. Results of a survey of more than 200 U.S. and U.K. online retailers from e-commerce provider Channel Advisor also indicated the following:

St. Louis - Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. has appointed Jennifer Kretchmar as chief product officer. Kretchmar will lead the company's merchandising and product development teams and will report to Sharon John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Columbus, Ohio — Glimcher Realty Trust announced that Scott Barrett has been appointed to the role of VP development – anchor leasing. In this role, Barrett will lead the development, leasing and design activity associated with anchor, big-box and peripheral land deals across the portfolio.

San Antonio – Motor fuel and convenience store operator CST Brands Inc. reported net income of $32 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, down 22% from $41 million in the second quarter of the prior fiscal year. Until May 1, 2013, CST was still a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero and, as such, second quarter 2013 results do not include all of the expenses associated with being a public company.