News Briefs

Amazon has big plans for the village of Orland Park, Ill.

The Chicago suburb is proposed site of a retail development that the e-commerce giant wants to build on a 35-acre site, reported Patch.com. The plan cleared its first hurdle this week when it was approved by Orland Park’s plan commission. It still needs to be approved by the village board of trustees who will meet on Jan. 19.

The development includes a 229,000-sq.-ft. building housing a retail store offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with a “limited” warehouse component to support on-site operation, according to the report. The plan also include multiple commercial outlets, six acres for open and landscaped space, and stormwater detention.

If approved, the plan would be Amazon’s first foray into big-box retailing, putting it in direct brick-and-mortar competition with the likes of Walmart’s supercenters and Costco. 

Amazon was represented at the commission meeting by attorney Katie Jahnke Dale of global law firm DLA Piper.

“We like to explain it as: 'It's the best that Amazon has to offer under Whole Foods, Fresh and their online offerings,'” she said, reported Patch.com. 

“We regularly test new experiences designed to make customers’ lives better and easier every day, including physical stores," an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to Chain Store Age. "The site in question is our planned location for a new concept that we think customers will be excited about."

Viral trends on social media — despite fizzling out after a short amount of time — are driving a large share of online impulse purchases.

Americans now spend an average of $1,598 annually on home decor, with much of it driven by viral design trends on TikTok and Instagram, according to data compiled by online home decor platform Awedeco of online marketplaces and consumer surveys. Awedeco says that a third (33%) of online home decor buyers make purchasing decisions based on achieving an "Instagram-worthy" or "TikTok-viral" aesthetic.

In other findings, 74% have experienced "buyer's remorse" after online shopping for home items, with 70% of Gen Z and millennials reporting buyer's remorse within six months of trend-driven purchases. An estimated $8.7 billion is spent annually on online trend-driven purchases that are abandoned within six to 12 months. These include TikTok-based trends such as “cottagecore,” “Barbiecore,” “dark academia” and more.

Additionally, nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers have bought something on sale that they later regretted, often driven by FOMO (fear of missing out) triggered by social media trends.

Awedeco also found that more than half (56%) of frequent social media feel anxious when comparing themselves to friends and their homes on social media platforms, while a similar percentage (58%) users report feeling their home is "inadequate.”

[READ MORE: Survey: Majority of social media purchases fueled by online influencers]

"Your home should reflect you, not TikTok," says Andreea Dima from AweDeco. "The most beautiful homes are the ones that tell a personal story – not the ones that look like everyone else's feed."

Five Below reported very strong results for the holiday period and raised its outlook for the fourth quarter and full year.

The value tween and teen retailer said that its net sales increased by 23.2% to $1.47 billion for the period Nov. 2, 2025 through Jan. 3, 2026. comparable sales for the holiday period rose 14.5%.

"We are incredibly pleased with our holiday performance, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the strategies we have been executing this year," stated Winnie Park, who was appointed CEO in December 2024. "With our maniacal focus on the customer: the kid and the kid in all of us, we offered amazing, trend-right products at exceptional value and began to create a better-connected customer journey. In combination with tight-knit collaboration and alignment throughout the company, we drove strong, broad-based results."

Based on its holiday performance and forecast for January, Five Below has raised its outlook for the fourth quarter and full year. For the full year, it expects net sales of approximately $4.75 billion, with comparable sales up 12.5%. 

One of Chicagoland’s major retail centers is welcoming new tenants as it continues its redevelopment process.

Westfield Old Orchard, located in Skokie, Ill., is adding two eateries and two popular experience-driven retailers to its list of tenants. The Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield owned and operated outdoor center currently features more than 150 retailers, dining destinations and event spaces.

Additional details of the new openings include the following:

•Blue Bottle Coffee (Opens Jan. 19) The acclaimed coffee brand brings its minimalist café experience to Westfield Old Orchard, with a special gift for the first 150 guests on opening day. More details to come.

•Pop Mart (Opens late February) Recognized globally for its collectible designer toys and blind box phenomenon, including the Labubu, the retailer will offer a playful, immersive experience for art and pop-culture enthusiasts. More details to come.

•Lego (Now open) The new Lego store offers hands-on fun for all ages, featuring curated sets, interactive play tables, and a Pick & Build wall where guests can create something of their own.

•Sweetgreen (Now open) Health-focused Sweetgreen is now serving its signature menu of seasonal salads, warm bowls and plates at the center, offering guests a  fast-casual dining option while shopping,

[READ MORE: First Look: Beyond Yoga opens at Westfield Old Orchard]

First announced in 2024, Westfield Old Orchard is undergoing a mixed-use redevelopment that will transform it into a multifaceted, mixed-use destination, adding modern residences, gourmet markets, green space and outdoor gathering areas to the center.

Nordstrom Inc. is adding two more locations to its list of planned off-price openings.

The retailer will open new Nordstrom Rack locations in two Philadelphia suburbs, Exton and Media, in fall 2026. The stores join a list of recently-announced locations in New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and Texas that are scheduled to open in the next two years.

At the new locations, guests will find up to 70% off on-trend apparel, accessories, beauty products, home decor and shoes from many of the top brands sold at Nordstrom stores, as well as core services like online order pickup.

Nordstrom Inc. currently operates two Nordstrom stores and seven Nordstrom Rack stores in Pennsylvania. The retailer plans to have nearly 300 Rack stores open by the end of 2025, with a total of 400 stores planned to be open by 2028. 

"We look forward to being a part of the Exton and Media communities and serving our customers with an amazing offering of great brands at great prices," said Gemma Lionello, president of Nordstrom Rack. "We're excited to grow our footprint in these regions and introduce new customers to the Nordstrom experience."

The 30,000-sq.-ft. Exton store will be located at Main Street at Exton, a shopping center that includes Walmart, Lidl, Barnes & Noble, Michaels, Sephora, Athleta, Old Navy and Banana Republic. Main Street at Exton is owned and managed by Wolfson Group Inc.

[READ MORE: Nordstrom expands partnership with NuOrder]

The 30,000-sq.-ft. Media store will be located at Promenade at Granite Run, a shopping center that includes TJ Maxx, Michaels, Kohls, Ikea and Boscov's. Promenade at Granite Run is owned and managed by BET Investments.

Additional planned Nordstrom Rack openings can be found here.

Tractor Supply Company has already kicked off its 2026 expansion plans.

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer opened its 2,400th location with a new store in Aiken, S.C., which marks one of our stores set to open in the first two weeks of the year. Tractor Supply said it plans to open 100 new locations by the end of the year.

The new Aiken store features a 3,000-sq.-ft. Garden Center, and is situated near an existing Tractor Supply location that has served the community since 2004. The company says Aiken, located near Augusta, Ga., is recognized as a community steeped in “equestrian heritage,” with the new store offering horse enthusiasts the ability to shop for all necessary equipment.

Last fall, Tractor Supply said most of its 2026 expansion would take place in the Western U.S., with the growth supported by a new distribution center in Idaho.

[READ MORE: Tractor Supply Co. hits record Q3 sales; meets Street with profit]

“At Tractor Supply, everything starts with the communities we serve and the customers who rely on us every day,” said John Ordus, Tractor Supply’s chief stores officer. “With its deep-rooted horse culture, enduring sense of community and passion for ‘Life Out Here,’ we are honored to mark our 2,400th store right here in Aiken and are excited to welcome in our neighbors."