Retail

Coppell, Texas – Alco Stores, Inc. will voluntarily delist its common stock from the Nasdaq Stock Market on or about Oct. 31, 2013. The delisting of the company's shares is subject to stockholder approval of the proposed merger with an affiliate of Argonne Capital Group, LLC.

Pritzker Group Venture Capital, formerly New World Ventures, has invested $45 million in Chicago-based SMS Assist, a leading mobile and cloud-based facilities maintenance technology company.  
 

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Co. has reportedly been defending itself against anonymous allegations made on Twitter. According to Bloomberg, J.C. Penney recently had to publicly deny tweets saying the company had hired a bankruptcy attorney and no longer had Canadian credit.

Kohl’s is the latest department store to announce that it will open its doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, as it kicks off its Black Friday event earlier than ever.  

Stores will be open for 28 hours straight, from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 through midnight Friday nationwide.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is increasing its focus on opening stores in college campuses and other non-traditional locations. The list of universities that have recently opened new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in 2013 or plan to open new locations by January 2014 includes Westfield University (second location), Norwich University, Merrimack College, University of Rhode Island (opening two locations), University of Alabama Huntsville, Brandeis University, and Wayne State University.

Las Vegas — Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is ushering in four new dining and retail destinations spanning 9,192 sq. ft.

Two new restaurants, Meatball Spot and Ketchup Premium Burger Bar will soon boost the restaurant count 17.

Tervis, the insulated tumbler retailer, will open at Miracle Mile Shops in December.  Slated to open in February 2014, Shoe Palace will add its selection of footwear, apparel and accessories to the center.

New York – Despite many forecasts of a gloomy holiday season for retailers, Deloitte is predicting an increase in consumer spending. Deloitte's 28th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends indicates shoppers surveyed plan to spend an average of $421 on holiday gifts this year, up from $386 last year. They also expect to buy an average of 12.9 gifts, ending a five-year decline in the number of gifts they plan to purchase.

Dallas — SRS Real Estate Partners welcomes Jon Cowen as senior VP in the Phoenix office. Cowen bring 24 years of experience in commercial real estate to SRS, where he will focus on representing local and national retailers, shopping center leasing and development and investment sales.

Previously, Cowen worked with the Retail Advisory Group at Cushman & Wakefield after Cushman acquired his own real estate firm, Cowen Commercial.