Retail

WASHINGTON — AAA forecasts 91.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 2011-2012 year-end holiday travel season, a 1.4% increase over the 90.7 million people who traveled one year ago, the travel organization announced earlier this week. This year’s expected year-end holiday travel volume is the second-highest in the past decade and represents 30% of the total U.S. population.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that Sleep Outfitters has leased 4,000 sq. ft. at Red Bank Commons, located in Evansville, Ind.

Sleep Outfitters joins Fashion Bug and Hibbett Sports in the 34,258-sq.-ft. shopping center.

Yes, you read that correctly. Walmart will need to hire an estimated 4.3 million people over the course of the next five years to keep pace with anticipated growth and turnover. No wonder the company is such a big supporter of an organization known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), which held its Global Partner Summit in Rogers, Ark. earlier this week.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced the appointment of Luke Petherbridge as senior VP capital markets. In this role, Petherbridge will be primarily responsible for capital raising, actively managing the balance sheet and maintaining strong lender relationships.

Walmart's social media shopping platform, Shopycat is using the services of ifeelgoods, a company that provides marketing and technology solutions for digital goods incentives, to provide Facebook credits as reward for key customer actions. 

Through its partnership with @WalmartLabs, Walmart's social media arm, ifeelgoods is providing technology to encourage customers to use Walmart's new ShopyCat social gift finder, ifeelgoods reported.

New York City -- Global architecture and design firm Callison announced Friday the acquisition of New York City-based Barteluce Architects & Associates.

This acquisition will grow Callison’s New York team to over 75 architects. Since Jan. 1, 2011, Callison has added more than 200 professionals to its global offices and the company said it plans to make more strategic acquisitions and investments in the future.

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group said that Charles Boscarino has joined the company as the newly appointed VP of leasing. 

Boscarino replaces Bobby Eggleston, who has been promoted to VP of RMC and will be involved in the areas of acquisitions and new development.

Boscarino previously served as VP real estate and store development for Bealls Stores, where he was primarily responsible for the development, expansion, and marketing of 500 stores in 14 states.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us Has announced that its stores nationwide will remain open for 112 uninterrupted hours beginning at 6am on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and continuing through 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

In conjunction with continuous shopping during the last few days leading up to Christmas, Toys"R"Us will hold a two-day sale from Tuesday, Dec. 20 to Wednesday, Dec. 21.