Retail

Oklahoma City -- The vast majority (91.4%) of American consumers plan to give up to three retail gift cards as gifts over the next three months, according to survey results released Tuesday by the Retail Gift Card Association.

However, the survey also found that consumers will continue to keep their wallets tight - only 30.6% of respondents would purchase something they would not normally buy. The rest, 69.4%, said they would spend the gift card on something they needed, or put it toward a larger purchase.

Atlanta -- Shenandoah Plaza, a 146,121-sq.-ft. neighborhood center in Newnan, Ga., has been sold to the Georgia Capital Group by RCG-Newnan. Big Lots, Goodwill and Dollar General anchor the center.

The Atlanta office of SRS Real Estate Partners represented RCG-Newnan in the transaction.
 

Boston – Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair.com is launching Inspiration Gallery, a collection of interior design photography that is integrated with the company’s product selection to enable one-stop shopping. Currently in beta, Inspiration Gallery features photos with individual elements that automatically link to online product listings.

Burlington, N.J. -- Burlington Coat Factory credited the unusually cold winter experienced by many parts of the country, which dampened the first quarter results of many retailers, for helping to drive its strong financial performance during the first quarter.

The retailer reported net income of $11.1 million, a substantial improvement from $842,000 in the first quarter of the prior year, primarily driven by sales growth and improved gross margin rate which was in turn partially offset by increased selling and administrative expenses.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is showing off a new, modern store concept in Ocala, Fla. The contemporary design reflects the retailer’s evolution from the corner liquor store and bar to a 150-plus-store purveyor of fine wine and spirits. It’s also more in sync with the brand’s shifting customer base, which has grown more upscale and increased from 30% to 55% female.

Westborough, Mass. -- BJ's Membership Club said it has opened its 200th club, located in Fayetteville, N.C.

Grand opening celebrations will take place on June 22 and 23.

New York -- Johnny Rockets has been acquired by an affiliate of private-equity group Sun Capital Partners Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Johnny Rockets operates about 300 corporate and franchise-owned hamburger restaurants in 30 states and 16 countries, including 17 Six Flags amusement park locations and 11 Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea said Tuesday it plans to increase the solar array atop its two-year-old Centennial, Colo. store, with panel installation slated to begin in July.

Completion of what is already Colorado’s largest single-use rooftop array on a commercial building is slated for this fall, and will elevate the project to the state’s largest rooftop array of any use.