Retail

New York - President Obama met with Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke in the Oval Office Monday afternoon. Sources said Obama and Duke were to discuss ways to spur job growth and encourage companies to invest in the United States.

Arriving at the White House, Duke declined to answer questions about the substance of the meeting.

“We’re just going to have a nice visit,” he said, according to Bloomberg.

New York - The holiday shopping season got off to a positive if unspectacular start, according to preliminary results from the Black Friday weekend.  The number of people who shopped at stores and online between Thursday and Sunday was up 8.7% to 212 million shoppers, according to a National Retail Federation survey of 4,306 shoppers conducted by BIGresearch. The total amount spent during the four-day weekend reached an estimated $45 billion, with the average spending rising 6.4% to $365.34, the survey showed.

North Miami Beach, Fla. - Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced two new tenants for Intracoastal Mall, a 234,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in North Miami Beach.

Hiro’s Yakko-San will open a 4,438-sq.-ft. Japanese restaurant in December 2010. And Dollar Tree has leased 10,200 sq. ft. and is slated to open a new store in early 2011.

Intracoastal Mall is anchored by TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Winn Dixie and Sunrise Cinemas.

Miramar, Fla. - Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced that five new restaurants have opened over the last few months at Miramar Square in Miramar, Fla.

Miramar Square is a 240,000-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Kohl’s, Staples and Dollar General.

The new restaurant openings include Golden Krust Caribbean Grill, L&L Market Bistro/Elle’s, Smitty’s Grill, La Coriana and Giardinos Gourmet Salads.

Other eateries slated to open in the next months include Coldstone Creamery and Sir Pizza.