News Briefs

Mark Zinder, economist and former national spokesman for global asset management firm Franklin Templeton, will be one of the keynote speakers at Chain Store Age’s SPECS Show, the premier conference for store development and facilities management. The annual event will be held March 8–10, at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Md.

With a 40-year career in finance and career, Zinder is a regular guest on Fox Business and CNBC. He honed his talent for spotting financial trends while working at Franklin Templeton. During his tenure there, he cultivated a talent for how to tackle tough questions about the economy.

Zinder will share his economic outlook with SPECS attendees and detail how to achieve success in today’s changing world during his keynote on Tuesday, March 10. 

To learn more about SPECS 2026 and register for the event, click here.

Alex Rodriguez

Also speaking at SPECS is one of Major League Baseball’s biggest superstars turned successful business entrepreneur, Alex Rodriguez, who will deliver the opening keynote on Monday, March 9.

Rodriguez will discuss his journey in sports, his role as business leader — and share lessons on how strategic pivoting can build success.

[READ MORE: Alex Rodriguez to keynote SPECS 2026]

Ulta Beauty is expanding its fledgling Middle East footprint.

The specialty beauty retailer is set to make its debut in the United Arab Emirates with the opening of a store in Mall of the Emirates on Jan. 29, in partnership with Alshaya Group, a leading international retail franchise operator that is handling operations for Ulta’s expansion in the Middle East. Additional locations are planned for the Dubai Mall, opening in March, and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia opening in May.

In November, Ulta opened its first store in the Middle East, at The Avenues shopping center in Kuwait. 

“The UAE launch marks an exciting milestone for Ulta Beauty and Alshaya Group as we continue our expansion in the Middle East and bring our distinctive beauty experience to the region," said Kecia Steelman, president and CEO at Ulta Beauty, We are proud of the teams who brought this vision to life and look forward to welcoming guests in Dubai to discover a destination where beauty, self-expression, and possibility come together.”

[READ MORE: Ulta Beauty to debut new wellness-focused shop-in-shop concept]

Since opening its first store in 1990, Ulta Beauty has grown to approximately 1,500 stores across the U.S.

Ulta Beauty is diving deeper into the wellness category with a new in-store concept to showcase its offerings.

The beauty giant will debut its first-ever Wellness by Ulta Beauty shop-in-shop on Jan. 26. The new concept will launch in three locations — Columbus, Ohio; Short Pump, Va.; and Peabody, Mass. — on Jan. 26. An additional location will open in April, in Naperville, Ill.

The boutiques will occupy a 300- to 600-sq.-ft. dedicated footprint within each store, with an assortment that includes vitamins and supplements, feminine products, sleep-focused items and more. The shops will feature "refreshed branding, intuitive navigation, interactive education and dedicated wellness advisors — reinforcing Ulta Beauty’s role as a trusted guide at the intersection of beauty and wellness, “ the company said.

The selection will include a curated mix of wellness brands, including newcomers such as The Nue Co., Stripes (founded by Naomi Watts) and Playground (co-founded by Christina Aguilera), launching simultaneously within the select wellness boutique locations and on Ulta.com.

The retailer first launched The Wellness Shop at Ulta Beauty in 2021. The new in-store boutiques mark the first time Ulta’s wellness offerings will have a dedicated space in its stores.

“Wellness by Ulta Beauty is evolving from a category into an experience,” said Laura Beres, VP of wellness at Ulta Beauty. “Our first-ever wellness boutiques will deliver discovery, education and trusted guidance together in a way that helps guests easily find what works best for them.”

[READ MORE: Ulta Beauty Q3 earnings smash estimates; comp sales jump 6.3%]

At the end of its most recent quarter, Ulta Beauty operated more than 1,500 stores across the U.S., excluding the 80-plus stores in the U.K. and Ireland operated by Space NK. Ulta expanded its global footprint last year, with new stores opening in the Middle East and Mexico.

A newly-built shopping center in the Phoenix metro area has been completed and fully leased.

Vestar, a commercial real estate owner, operator and manager, has announced the completion of Vineyard Towne Center, an open-air retail destination in Queen Creek, Ariz. The $100 million, 260,000-square-foot development broke ground in 2021 and has reached full occupancy.

Anchor tenant Target opened a 145,000-sq.-ft. store in October, offering its full range of fulfillment options. The fully-leased tenant roster also includes Sprouts Farmers Market, Mattress Firm, European Wax Center, Five Guys, Zaxby's, Wingstop and more. Pet Supplies Plus is slated to open in the fall.

"Completing Vineyard Towne Center marks another exciting milestone in our long-term commitment to the Queen Creek community," said Jeffrey Axtell, executive VP of development at Vestar. "This center has seen incredible leasing momentum, and the strong response from both tenants and residents underscores the demand for high-quality destinations that blend convenience, variety, and an elevated sense of place. We're proud to deliver a project that will serve Queen Creek for years to come."

The completion of Vineyard Towne Center follows the recent delivery of Queen Creek Crossing, another major Vestar development located five miles down the road. Anchored by Costco, Ashley Furniture and Hobby Lobby, Queen Creek Crossing spans more than 400,000 sq. ft. and is also 100% leased.

[READ MORE: H Mart plans largest California store yet]

Based in Phoenix, Vestar’s portfolio exceeds 30 million sq. ft. across the western United States. The company has an additional 3 million sq. ft. under active development.

[READ MORE: First Look: Roots debuts new Vancouver flagship; pilots ‘concept’ store]

Walmart is expanding its deployment of self-service, in-store key duplication kiosks that, using computer vision and robotics, are designed to deliver highly accurate key duplication.

The kiosks, from KeyMe Locksmiths, were introduced in an additional 1,667 Walmart stores in 2025, more than doubling its reach within the chain. The kiosks will be available in over 3,330 Walmart locations by the end of 2026.

The kiosks utilize computer vision technology, employing multiple cameras to capture a detailed 3D image of the key’s teeth. The kiosk then analyzes the scanned image using machine learning algorithms, accounting for wear and tear and effectively restoring the key to its original factory specifications. This ensures that even worn keys can be accurately duplicated. Once analyzed, the kiosk cuts a new key on the spot. 

“The technology provides a fast, simple, and consistent experience while reducing operational burdens on store teams,” said James Moorhead, CEO of KeyMe Locksmiths, which operates more than 7,500 kiosks nationwide.

In addition to Walmart, KeyMe Locksmiths deployed kiosks across a diverse network of retailers in 2025, including 7-Eleven, Albertsons, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Kroger, Meijer, Rural King, Staples, Stop & Shop, Walmart and WinCo Foods. In a new collaboration, Blains Farm & Fleet launched a 10-location pilot.

“KeyMe Locksmiths began with a simple mission: to make key duplication fast, easy, and accessible,” said Moorhead. “Self-service key cutting delivers what manual cutting can’t: a wider selection of keys, advanced car-key capabilities and a profitable, zero-labor, zero-inventory experience for retailers. The technology provides a fast, simple, and consistent experience while reducing operational burdens on store teams.”

KeyMe Locksmiths pairs its kiosk network with a full suite of traditional locksmith services,