Retail

Denver -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is announcing the grand opening of its newest Texas location in the new Town Square Shopping Center in Wichita Falls. The store opens for business on Dec. 5.

"We invite the Wichita Falls community to come in see what we're about," said Kemper Isely, Natural Grocers co-president. “While they are here, shoppers can also pick up some practical ideas for healthy eating during one of our free cooking demonstrations, or take part in a free nutritional education seminar."

Same store sales increased 10.1% during November at J.C. Penney, the company announced during an update on its holiday performance.

In addition to the double digit comp performance, J.C. Penney said its e-commerce sales through jcp.com continued to be strong, running well ahead of last year, consistent with last month's trend.

Edison and Eatontown, N.J. — Levin Management has added two new shopping center assignments — on behalf of two new clients — to its portfolio.

Newport Beach, Calif. -- Engaged Capital, an investment firm specializing in small and mid-cap North American equities and beneficial owner of approximately 400,000 shares of the common stock of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. sent a letter to the company’s board of directors on Dec. 3. In its letter, Engaged Capital highlighted the upcoming expiration of Abercrombie chairman and CEO Michael Jeffries’ employment contract on February 1, 2014 as an opportunity for the board to set a new direction for the company.

Visa shared select details about spending activity from its credit card holders which confirmed findings from other organizations showing that e-commerce sales set new records during the five-day period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday.

The credit card issuers said e-commerce sales across smart phones, tablets and PCs conducted by U.S. Visa accountholders increased 30% to $7.8 billion. Visa also noted that Cyber Monday ruled the five-day period with spending on Visa cards up 28% to $2.6 billion while Thanksgiving Day saw a 30% jump to nearly $1 billion.

Oak Brook, Ill. – McDonald’s is reportedly making its free “McD” mobile app available to customers in the New England/Albany, N.Y. market. According to the Boston Globe, New England/Albany is the third market where McDonald’s has released the McD app, which is available for both iPhones and Android smartphones.

Omaha, Neb. – Gordman’s Stores reported declining net income even as net income grew in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $1.1 million, down 72.5% from net income of $4 million in the third quarter of the prior year.

Safeway has reached a definitive agreement to sell 11 of its Dominick's stores in the Chicago metropolitan area in a cash and lease assumption transaction to Roundy's. Roundy's will take possession of the stores during a transition period that will take place in the next two months.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.