Retail

Lumber Liquidators spokesman Clint Roberts responded to sister publication HCN's requests for comment regarding the ongoing federal investigation into its sourcing practices. Multiple reports have suggested that the investigation is linked to the Environmental Investigation Agency, which claims the retailer is purchasing wood illegally in protected forests in Far East Russia.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods grand-opened three new stores on Friday, bringing the total store count to 541 in the U.S.

The chain opened a store in Redding, Wash., at the Redding Hilltop Center, its 30th store in the state of Washington. A new opening in Victorville, Calif., at The Mall of Victor Valley, marks the 31st Dick’s store in California.

And in Kansas, at the Midstate Plaza in Salina, Dick’s opened its eighth store in the state.

Wilmington, N.C. — Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has arranged the sale of The Forum, a 105,000-sq.-ft boutique retail center in Wilmington, N.C. The $24,680,000 sales price equates to $233 per square foot.

Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Lauderdale office represented the seller, the developer of the property, Swain & Associates, as well as the buyer, L&B Realty Advisors LLP, a pension fund. Swain & Associates will maintain its offices at The Forum and continue to handle leasing responsibilities.

Columbus, Ohio - The previously announced offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes due 2023 from L Brands (formerly knows as Limited Brands) has priced at 100% of the aggregate principal amount with a coupon of 5.625%. The sale of the 2023 notes was underwritten by BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as joint book-running managers.

Virtual Piggy has become a Demandware LINK Technology Partner. Through the LINK Technology Partner Program, Virtual Piggy has developed a pre-built integration between Virtual Piggy and Demandware Commerce, making it possible for Demandware clients to implement its safe youth commerce solution in a fraction of the time normally required.

New York -- Charming Charlie has signed a lease for a 15,500-sq.-ft. store at 445 Fifth Avenue in the heart of midtown Manhattan. The fashion accessories retailer will open its first-ever Manhattan flagship store in early 2015.

Thor Equities owns and manages the building, which is located at the northeast corner of 39th street and Fifth Avenue, across from the New York Public Library. RKF and Strategic Retail Advisors represented Charming Charlie in the transaction. Thor Equities represented itself.

Monroe, Mich. – La-Z-Boy Inc. intends to acquire two La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores located in the Youngstown, Ohio, market, with combined revenue of approximately $6.5 million. The stores are located in Boardman and Howland, Ohio, and are owned and operated by independent dealers who are retiring.  

Shelton, Conn. -- TABS Group, a technology-enabled analytics firm, has announced the formation of a senior-level team dedicated to supporting internal and customer-related initiatives with Walmart.

TABS Group will tap into its new talent base to obtain a comprehensive understanding as to how the largest U.S. retail chain operates on a chain and local level. The insights gained will benefit Walmart and consumer products manufacturers and further contributes to the firm's mission to simplify and improve the way analytics is conducted within the industry.