Supply Chain & Merchandising

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us revealed its 2012 hot toys list Wednesday, but not before Walmart did the same, giving the discounter a head start and the opportunity to poke fun at the toy retailer's earlier announced toy reservation program.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- SPL Realty Partners, exclusively representing Australian women’s activewear retailer Lorna Jane, announced 11 leases have been secured for Lorna Jane’s expansion into the United States.

The retail sites are located throughout the Southern California region including stores in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Irvine and Huntington Beach.

A warehouse was also secured for the support of the network of retail stores and online fulfillment in Santa Monica, Calif.

Reading, Pa. -- Garrison Investment Group said that Charming Charlie, Berkshire Shoe & Boot, and Menchey Music have opened or will open soon at The Shoppes at Wyomissing, located in Reading, Pa.

The three new tenants total nearly 11,400 sq. ft. in the 103,108-sq.-ft. open-air lifestyle center, which is owned by the Garrison and managed by Levin Management.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is opening its first store in East Peoria, Ill. in March 2013. The 135,000 sq. ft. store, located at Clock Tower Drive and West Washington Street, will be part of the 86-acre East Peoria Downtown development.

According to Target, the new store will feature the typical Target assortment along with a selection of fresh produce, fresh packaged meat and pre-packaged baked goods as well as a Starbucks and a Target Pharmacy to further enhance guests’ experience. The store will employ approximately 150 to 200 team members.

Honolulu -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that it has been awarded the leasing and management of Hawaii Kai Towne Center, a 480,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use center located in Honolulu.

Jones Lang LaSalle's retail portfolio in Hawaii also includes Windward Mall on O’ahu, Queen Ka’ahumanu Center on Maui and the Kings’ Shops on Hawai‘i Island.

Publix is making its North Carolina debut with the planned opening of a new store in the greater Charlotte area.

The company has signed a lease for a store at Providence Road West and Johnston Road in Ballantyne. The store will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

While Ballantyne marks Publix’s long awaited entry into North Carolina, the company is looking ahead to continued growth within the state and in its current operating areas of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open Nordstrom Rack stores in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, Wis.; Ann Arbor, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio.

It will be the retailer's first location in the state of Wisconsin.

The approximately 36,000-sq.-ft. store in Wauwatosa, Wis., is scheduled to open in spring 2014 at The Mayfair Collection, a 250,000-sq.-ft. planned adaptive reuse development of a former industrial complex and distribution center.

Orchids Paper Products Company was recognized as Dollar General’s private label vendor of the year at the retailer’s annual vendor summit.

Orchids said it received the award in recognition of its innovation, dependability and excellence in its partnership with Dollar General.