Distribution

Chesapeake, Va. -- It’s a done deal.

Dollar Tree announced Monday that it has completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores.

Gary Philbin, 58, formerly president and COO of Dollar Tree, has been named to the same position at Family Dollar, effective immediately. In his new role, Philbin will continue to report to Bob Sasser, CEO of Dollar Tree.

Specialty home goods retailer Conn’s continues to expand outward from its home state of Texas with several recent openings in key markets pushing the company toward its ambitious 2015 growth plan.

Conn’s currently operates 90 stores and earlier this year announced plans for between 15 and 18 new stores. Over the July 4 weekend the company added two store in North Carolina, a 46,000-sq.-ft. store in Charlotte and a slightly smaller 43,000-sq.-ft. store in Gastonia.

Charlotte, N.C. – Family-owned Belk Inc., which hired Goldman Sachs in April to explore “strategic alternatives,” may have landed on a high-end shopping list. According to Reuters, New York-based equity firm Sycamore Partners may be considering bidding $3 billion to $3.5 billion for Belk.

Belk operates about 300 stores and averages about $4 billion in annual sales. In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, Belk reported earnings of $21.8 million and sales of $958 million, both of which were year-over-year improvements.

Dollar Tree's yearlong takeover saga, in which the retailer's offer to buy Family Dollar prompted a separate buyout attempt from Dollar General, is finally over.

Dollar Tree Inc. announced that it has completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores Inc. Dollar Tree also named a new president and COO of Family Dollar. The combined company will operate about 13,000 stores, making it the largest dollar store chain in the U.S. by store count. 

Katy, Texas – Academy Sports + Outdoors is hitting a landmark in its store count.

The sporting goods chain will open its 200th store in Tupelo, Mississippi on July 3.

The Tupelo store will be approximately 63,000-sq.-ft. and will bring 100 new jobs to the area. This will be the first location in Tupelo and the fifth store in Mississippi.

Seattle – Lovers of the great outdoors in the Cleveland and Philadelphia areas have something else to celebrate as Independence Day approaches.

Outdoor gear and apparel retailer announced it will open new stores in fall 2016 in Cleveland and in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

New York – Aeropostale Inc. is expanding in Asia through new licensing agreements in India and Indonesia. The company plans to open stores in India through a licensing agreement with Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd., and in Indonesia through a licensing agreement with PT Mitra Adiperkasa TBK (MAP).

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open new stores in Corbin, Kentucky, and in Middletown, Kentucky, both on July 18.  

The 22,000-sq.-ft. Corbin store is located in the Trademart Shopping Center at Highway 25 and Master Street.

The 25,000-sq.-ft. Middletown store is located in Middletown Commons at Interstate 265 and Shelbyville Road, 14 miles east of Louisville.  

Both are part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.