News Briefs

Ryan Cohen, the CEO of GameStop Corp., has withdrawn a CEO performance award that would have given him a potential $35 billion bonus.

In January, the long-struggling video game retailer unveiled a performance award — worth roughly $35 billion — that was designed to incentivize Cohen to achieve “extraordinary growth." Cohen, however, has changed course, and the board has granted his request to remove the award so that leadership can fully focus on the company’s proposed eBay acquisition.

In May, GameStop made an unexpected attempt to acquire eBay Inc., submitting an unsolicited, non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of the company at $125 per share in 50% cash and 50% stock The offer, valued at about $56 billion, represented a 46% premium to eBay’s unaffected closing price on Feb. 4, 2026, the day GameStop started accumulating its position in eBay. (GameStop has an approximate 5% stake in eBay.)

The offer was rejected by eBay, with chairman of the board Paul S. Pressler, calling the proposal  “neither credible nor attractive.” 

“We have taken into account such factors as eBay's standalone prospects, the uncertainty regarding your financing proposal, the impact of your proposal on eBay's long-term growth and profitability, the leverage, operational risks, and leadership structure of a combined entity, the resulting implications of these factors on valuation, and GameStop's governance and executive incentives,” Pressler wrote in a post.

According to a report at Yahoo Finance, the GameStop board is backing a refreshed vision focused on the proposed acquisition of eBay.

An upcoming 500,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in the Phoenix metropolitan area has a slate of tenants already committed.

Vestar has shared the first round of tenant commitments for Laveen Towne Center, a new retail development planned for the rapidly-growing Laveen Village community outside of Phoenix. Scheduled to break ground this fall, Fat Cats, First Watch, Petersen’s Ice Cream, Club Pilates, Zara Nails, Mountain America Credit Union, Costa Vida, V’s Barbershop, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and a national footwear retailer have committed to open at the property.

Vestar says additional leasing announcements are anticipated as the project continues to advance through planning and development.

[READ MORE: Vestar announces food and beverage brands for new Arizona project]

Located southwest of downtown Phoenix, Laveen Village has a population of approximately 55,000, with a median household income of more than $110,000. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2025, the Phoenix metropolitan area is home to more than 5.2 million residents, making it the 10th largest metro in the country.

"Laveen continues to experience tremendous residential growth, and retailers are taking notice," said Kean Thomas, VP of finance and development at Vestar. "The strong leasing momentum we've achieved prior to breaking ground demonstrates the demand for quality retail and dining options in the community. We're excited to bring together a collection of brands that will serve residents' daily needs while creating a vibrant destination where the community can gather, shop, dine and connect."

Vestar’s portfolio exceeds 30 million square feet across the western United States, with an additional 3.5 million square feet under active development.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward will be hosting the grand opening of a new and larger Dick’s Sporting Goods at Ohio’s largest mall this week.

The long-time tenant at Eastwood Mall in Niles is cutting the ribbon on a next-generation format of its core store, enlarging it from 52,000 to 72,000 square feet. The new footprint features a House of Cleats, a 360-degree showcase of more than 400 cleat options and more than 1,000 styles of athletic footwear. 

Golf enthusiasts will be able to test clubs using Trackman and Foresight simulators that allow them to use state-of-the-art tracking for custom club fittings. The bigger format also features wider selections of gear for baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse, and hockey.

“Dick’s Sporting Goods' major expansion and relocation is the perfect showcase for the incredible momentum happening here,” said Johnny Chechitelli, Eastwood Mall’s director of marketing and communications. “Over the past few years, tens of millions of dollars have been invested across the Eastwood Mall Complex.”

A grand opening celebration will take place June 26 - 28 at the 3-million-plus square foot mall that is owned and managed in association with Cafaro-affiliated companies. 

Consumers are using artificial intelligence tools for products – but are verifying recommendations before buying.

That’s according to new research from e-commerce verification platform Product.ai, which found that 43% of U.S. online shoppers have used an AI assistant (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.) to research a purchase in the past 90 days. Among shoppers under 44, that figure climbs to roughly 55 to 58%.

Yet among those who use AI, nearly nine-in-10 (86%) still verify the AI's recommendation through another source before they buy. Only 14% of AI users said they trust its recommendations without checking another source first.

When asked by Product.ai the most they would spend on an AI-recommended product without consulting any other source, 42% of all shoppers drew the line under $25, a price point the report names the “AI Autonomy Threshold.” More than 60% capped it at $50 or less, while only 5% would trust AI for a purchase over $500.

[READ MORE: Survey: Some skepticism remains among AI shopping agent users]

When shoppers ranked seven sources by how much they trust each for product research, AI landed sixth, ahead of only YouTube creators. Friends and family ranked first, followed by online customer reviews and expert publications, with brand and retailer websites close behind.

"Shoppers trust AI to help them research,” Michael Quoc, founder & CEO of Product.ai. “They just want to confirm it before they spend. A friend, a verified review, an expert: those are the checks people reach for today. We are building Product.ai to be that trusted source.”

Product.ai’s survey was fielded through the Cint general-population panel in April 2026 and drew 1,463 complete responses from U.S. adults who shop online.

A new retail hub for K-pop music fans is coming to New York City.

Newmark Retail has arranged a lease for South Korea-based global entertainment technology company Dear U International at 24 Union Square East in Manhattan. The 9,932-sq.-ft. location will debut Dear U's Bubble House New York, an experiential concept that blends K-pop merchandise, exclusive activations and fan engagement experiences designed to “connect artists and fans in a physical setting.”

Bubble House is described as a physical extension of Dear U’s Bubble fan community platform, which allows music fans to connect with one another. The Manhattan space will mark Bubble House’s first permanent brick-and-mortar location and flagship U.S. store.

24 Union Square East is a 160,000-sq.-ft. office tower with a “rich retail history,” according to Newmark. The property was the original home of the S. Klein Department Store from 1912 through the early 1970s, and has since housed notable flagship tenants including Toys "R" Us and Raymour & Flanigan.

[READ MORE: Uniqlo opening three NYC stores — here’s where]

"Union Square continues to attract innovative brands seeking flagship opportunities in one of Manhattan's most active retail corridors," said Newmark Retail vice chairman Jeffrey D. Roseman. "Dear U's first permanent retail location reflects the neighborhood's appeal to experiential concepts and international brands looking to engage consumers in new ways."

Bubble House will join recently-signed tenant Activate Games, the interactive gaming concept with more than 40 locations worldwide, which leased 14,814 square feet comprising a portion of the ground floor and the entire second floor for its own flagship New York City location.

A&G Real Estate Partners, a leading real estate advisory firm specializing in sale of real estate and lease renegotiation, today announced that Ted Parris has joined the firm as a senior consultant.

Parris previously founded Parris Monroe Partners, where he focused on lease mitigation, rent reduction, and portfolio management. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at JLL and Newmark, including executive managing director and co-chair of the firm's restructuring group.

Over the course of his career, Parris has represented more than 100 million square feet of real estate and participated in transactions totaling approximately $10 billion--advising on both in- and out-of-court restructurings including sale of real estate.

"I'm excited to join A&G at a pivotal moment for the industry," said Parris. "The firm's strong reputation and collaborative culture make it an ideal platform to expand advisory capabilities and support companies navigating evolving real estate challenges."

Parris has worked with office, retail, and industrial clients to reduce lease liabilities and improve financial performance throughout his career. Some of his past clients include Walgreens, Starbucks, Toys "R" Us, and Shell Oil.

"Ted brings a strong real estate acumen and 30-plus years of expertise in lease renegotiation, real estate sales and advisory," said A&G co-founder Andy Graiser. "His track record and strategic approach align perfectly with our mission to deliver unparalleled value in complex situations."