News Briefs

Amazon is giving members of its paid membership program a seasonal treat for their vehicles – and wallets.

Starting Friday, Oct. 2 and running through Friday, Jan. 29, 2027, a springtime Prime promotion called Fuel Up Fridays will return in time for the holidays. Prime members, who already save $0.10 per gallon year-round at more than 7,500 BP and Amoco gas stations and participating AmPm and Thorntons convenience stores through a joint perk Amazon and BP began offering in fall 2024, can now save a total of $0.20 per gallon on one fuel purchase made each Friday during the promotion at participating locations.

[READ MORE: Amazon partners with BP to offer gas discount for Prime members]

To activate their fuel savings benefit, Prime members can sign up for a free BP Earnify loyalty account and then visit a dedicated page on the Amazon site. Activating the offer will connect a member’s Amazon and Earnify accounts. 

Members can then use the free Earnify app store locator to find the nearest BP, Amoco, or participating Thorntons and AmPm locations and begin redeeming at the pump by inputting their phone number or linked payment method. Households with Amazon Family memberships can save $0.20 per gallon at those fuel providers throughout the year.

This holiday fuel perk follows a promotion during the July Fourth holiday weekend (July 2-5), that allowed members of the Prime, Prime Access and Prime for Young Adults loyalty programs to save $0.50 per gallon on one fuel purchase at more than 7,500 BP, Amoco and participating AmPm and Thorntons locations across the U.S. 

Soft Swerve, Tony’s Tacos and Noches De Colombia will open this week at Queens Center, which also will unveil remodeled locations for Sephora, Adidas, and Windsor. Additional retailer renovations are also underway at Garage and JD Sports.

“Queens Center has long been a part of the local community. Over the past 50+ years our focus has always been on evolving alongside the shoppers we serve,” said Jamie Bourbeau, senior VP of leasing at Macerich, the owner-operator of the mall. “We’re seeing that continue today as new retailers and concepts join the center, adding to an already strong lineup of brands. It’s a reflection of the role Queens Center plays as one of the borough’s most important shopping destinations.” 

The company has also placed an emphasis on drawing Gen Z shoppers across its portfolio with brands that are favored by that generation.

The latest openings build on a strong year for Queens Center, following openings for Dave’s Hot Chicken and Crispy Burger as the center continues to bring in a mix of national brands and local concepts. 

Macerich reported that Queens Center receives 12 million annual visitors, who average dwell times of 78 minutes. The big mall operator reported company-record, portfolio-wide sales of $919 per square across its portfolio in the second quarter of 2026.

The Candlewood Shops in Lakewood, Calif., east of Anaheim, has new owners for the first time since the development was built in the Sixties, according to Marcus & Millichap. 

The property — an out-parcel next to the Lakewood Center Mall — is a food and  beverage island whose tenants include Chipotle, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Outback Steakhouse.

“Its position as an outparcel to Lakewood Center, combined with established national tenants and the continued investment and development occurring in the surrounding area, made this a unique acquisition opportunity,” said Bill Rose, senior managing director investments at Marcus & Millichap.

Lakewood Center is anchored by Costco, Target, The Home Depot, Albertsons, Burlington, Macy’s, JCPenney, Best Buy and 24 Hour Fitness. 

The surrounding area is also positioned for additional development, with more than 1,000 new housing units planned as part of the Lakewood Center mixed-use overlay.

Casey’s General Stores has made its second acquisition of 2026.

The Iowa-based convenience giant has acquired Oklahoma-based ASAP Energy Inc.’s 20-store ASAP General Stores convenience business, according to Chain Store Age’s sister publication Convenience Store News. The transaction also includes ASAP Energy's wholesale and commercial fuels and lubricants businesses, as well as other related assets.

ASAP Energy owners Rick and Sheila Koch announced the agreement, citing opportunities for their employees and Casey's presence in smaller communities as factors in the decision to sell to the business.

"We want more for our employees – more opportunities for professional growth, more resources and more possibilities for long-term success. We believe Casey's can provide those opportunities," the Kochs said in a Facebook post. "Casey's is a company where people can build long, rewarding careers, and we see this as an incredible opportunity for our team members to grow alongside a thriving brand."

In August, Casey’s agreed to acquire Pak-A-Sak, a family-owned convenience chain with 24 locations in the Texas panhandle.

[READ MORE: Casey's acquires Texas convenience chain]

A month earlier, the company announced a new strategic plan centered around three priorities: adding "at least" 400 new stores over the period, expanding its food and beverage offerings, and enhancing its operational efficiency by implementing new technology. Since introducing its last strategic plan in 2023, Casey's has opened more than 500 new stores and joined the S&P 500.

Founded in 1968, Casey’s is the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States. It operates more than 2,900 stores across 19 states.

At Home has evolved its Insider Perks loyalty offering based on customer feedback.

The value home decor retailer is launching a loyalty program called Design Rewards, which is a reboot of its previous loyalty initiative called Insider Perks. With Design Rewards, members earn points on every purchase in-store and online, obtain exclusive experiences and offers, and gain access to benefits tailored to how they shop and engage with At Home.

Building on Insider Perks, Design Rewards centers the member experience around four key areas:

• Value: Every purchase counts toward future savings. Members receive a $10 Design Reward for every 1,000 points, with base members earning four points per dollar and VIP members earning five points per dollar. At Home credit cardholders earn 50% more points.
• Recognition: Design Rewards is intended to help At Home better acknowledge members' relationships with it across stores and online, while rewarding deeper engagement with differentiated benefits and experiences for VIP members, At Home credit cardholders and participants in the Pro program for design industry professionals.
• Access: Members receive exclusive offers, sneak peeks, member-only shopping events and early access to select products before they are made broadly available.
• Personalization: The program includes tailored recommendations and rewards.

At Home conducted customer research while developing Design Rewards, asking shoppers to evaluate different combinations of program features and identify what mattered most to them. Customer input directly influenced key elements of the program, including the new $10 Design Reward structure and an increased emphasis on benefits other than savings.

Following pilots in select markets, At Home is developing an ongoing customer community and panel to gather input on Design Rewards and its broader shopping experience.

[READ MORE: At Home exits bankruptcy with fewer stores, less debt — and new owners]

Two fast-expanding off-price retailers have joined the roster of anchor tenants at Dadeland Station.

Burlington opened at the property in late August, followed by Marshalls in mid-September, together adding 62,000 square feet of new retail to the three-level, vertically-constructed Miami shopping center. The two retailers, which both have been growing their respective footprints nationwide, join Target, Best Buy, Michaels, PetSmart and more at Dadeland Station.

Located off of US 1 (South Dixie Highway), the property sees approximately 5,000 vehicle visits per day, according to Berkowitz Development Group.

“Dadeland Station is experiencing tremendous momentum and is a great example of the continued strength  and evolution of brick-and-mortar retail,” said Michael Berkowitz, Principal of Berkowitz Development Group, which opened the property in 1996. “The performance of our existing tenants, combined with the significant investment being made by Burlington and Marshalls, demonstrates the continued demand for well-positioned physical retail.”

[READ MORE: Burlington investing $370 million in headquarters move]

With the new additions, Dadeland Station has one remaining retail opportunity: an approximately 42,500-sq.-ft. anchor space. The shopping center spans 330,000 leasable square feet in total.

“We’re focused on attracting retailers that can perform at a very high level and continuing to strengthen Dadeland Station as one of Miami’s most successful retail destinations,” added Berkowitz.