Retail

Walmart awarded a $500,000 grant to the Northwest Arkansas Council to support the advancement of healthy living and economic improvement initiatives throughout Northwest Arkansas. 

The grant is part of a three-year commitment by Walmart to fund the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy, a regional growth and development plan spearheaded in 2010 by the Northwest Arkansas Council, local chambers of commerce and other organizations. 

Mokena, Ill. — Micoley.com’s Sept. 28 property auction will offer a restaurant and banquet facility in Mokena, Ill. The two-story restaurant spans 14,754 sq. ft. The site includes 162 parking spaces. Zoning allows other kinds of commercial activity.

The property has an opening bid of $995,000, substantially lower than the initial asking price of $1,795,000. Offers are expected during the lead up to the auction. Properties such as this frequently sell ahead of their auction date.

Technology is advancing to the degree where almost any digital consumer touchpoint has the potential to become a very real storefront. Video games, blog and social media postings, apps, and virtually any other digital environment that directly engages consumers either currently is or soon will be able to serve as a fully functioning storefront where transactions can be executed.

MIAMI — Ryder System, a leading commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions provider, has appointed Karen Jones as SVP and chief marketing officer. She will report to chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez.

Jones will be responsible for leading both the Fleet Management Solutions and Supply Chain Solutions marketing departments and integrating the management of all marketing and brand related activities across Ryder.

Have you heard of Silicon Beach? No, it isn’t an offshoot of Silicon Valley. It is a phenomenon emerging in West Los Angeles, home of The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center, a mixed-use development with office, residential, hotel, retail, restaurant and entertainment offerings.

Silicon Beach has taken its name from Silicon Valley — both are notable for the number of creative business start-ups.

Pennsauken, N.J. – Becker’s School Supplies has relaunched its e-commerce site using the WebLinc platform.

The WebLinc platform allows Becker’s to offer a branded user experience and also provides back-end merchandising and management tools. Since rolling out its new site, Becker’s has experienced a 120% jump in revenue compared to the same period last year, and saw transaction volume increase by 81% as a result of improved online performance.

Alpharetta, Ga. -- McAlister's Deli announced plans to develop 17 restaurants in Indiana, South Carolina, and Georgia as part of new multi-unit development agreements with two existing franchise groups.

"We are pleased that our existing franchisees are continuing to expand with McAlister's Deli," said McAlister's Deli president and CEO Frank Paci. "Their commitment to develop demonstrates their confidence in the brand's strength and its ability to provide franchisees with an attractive investment."

Detroit – Despite the widely reported financial troubles the Detroit area is facing, four current development projects demonstrate there is demand for new retail stores and restaurants in the city.

According to an article in Crain’s Detroit Business, all four projects are taking place near the Oakland Mall at the intersection of 14 Mile and John R. roads. Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties is reportedly developing Qdoba Mexican Grill and Starbucks locations off 14 Mile Road that will open later this fall.