Retail

TORONTO — Loft will open four new store locations in Ontario, Canada, following the retailer's initial foray into the Great White North late last year at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.

The retailer also introduced e-commerce into its new Canadian market in March.

Chicago -- Ebay, Walmart and McDonalds are tops when it comes to in-store charity donations, according to a study by Cause Marketing Forum that ranked the largest consumer donations at the point-of-sale last year. More than $358 million was raised in 2012 through a total of 63 corporate-backed charity checkout campaigns identified by Cause Marketing.

New York -- MPI has reported a significant increase in leasing volume within its core retail portfolio during the first four months of 2013 vs. the same period last year.

As of May 1, MPI has executed 23 new lease deals, many with new to the market tenants, representing a total of 113,900 sq. ft. throughout its national retail portfolio.  

On a year-over-year basis, the company has seen the number of new leases grow by 28%.
 

LONDON — The International Council of Shopping Centers’ executive committee has elected Marcus Wild, CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers, as divisional VP for the association’s European division. 

Lyndhurst, N.J. -- Crossroads Cos. has been named leasing agent and property manager for Veterans Square Shopping Center, located on New York Avenue in Lyndhurst, N.J.

The 144,400-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center’s tenant roster includes a free-standing ShopRite, Home Goods and a mix of national, regional and neighborhood businesses.

ATLANTA — The Home Depot announced a single-day effort to prepare residents in storm-prone regions for the upcoming hurricane season. On July 27, Home Depot said it will host Hurricane Preparedness Workshops at more than 700 of its stores from the Gulf Coast to New England.

The expansion of the workshops is one of several preemptive measures the company is taking in preparation for 2013 hurricane activity, which is once again predicted to be above average.

Washington, D.C. -- Douglas Development said it has teamed with CBRE on a new boutique office and retail project in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.

The 11-story office building will occupy approximately 93,000 sq. ft., and include 7,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space. The building will offer two floors of below grade parking, outdoor terraces, and a terracotta façade.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 12 increased a higher-than-expected 19% on increased sales and member fees. The wholesale club operator earned $459 million in the third quarter, up from $386 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 8% to $24.08 billion, just missing Wall Street’s forecast of $24.09 billion. Revenue from membership fees climbed to $531 million from $475 million, and same-store sales rose 5% overall and 6% in the U.S.