News Briefs

Tamagotchi is hosting a spring-themed celebration at one of the country's largest retail and entertainment centers.

The brand, known for its handheld virtual pets that hit peak popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is hosting its Tamagotchi Spring Celebration at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J. on March 29 and 30. Tamagotchi fans are invited to the event to “immerse themselves in the playful and interactive world” of the brand.  

"Our Spring event at the American Dream is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Tamagotchi brand and its fans of all ages," said Tara Badie, senior director of brand strategy at Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America, Tamagotchi’s parent company. "March 29 and 30 will be a very special opportunity to experience the brand as it lives today – with unique experiences that families will remember and cherish for a lifetime."

Activities at the Tamagotchi Spring Celebration will include:

• Scavenger Hunt Adventure: Guests will follow a custom scavenger hunt map around the mall, collecting stickers and surprises along the way, bringing the “Tamagotchi experience to life.”
• Themed Portrait Studio: Fans can step into a Spring Tamagotchi-inspired photo station and snap a picture with fan favorite character Mametchi for a special keepsake.
• Cotton Candy: Guests can enjoy cotton candy shaped like their favorite Tamagotchi characters.
• Express Yourself Station: Visitors can get Tamagotchi nail art, face painting and temporary tattoos.
• Tamagotchi Market: A dedicated space selling must-have Tamagotchi items, while also directing guests to the Bandai store at American Dream for even more Tamagotchi finds.

[READ MORE: American Dream to host big — and free — Jonas Brothers event]

American Dream, developed by Triple Five Group, features more than 3 million sq. ft. of retail, entertainment and dining.

WHP Global is looking to add another apparel brand to its portfolio.

Apparel retailer Guess Inc. said it has received a non-binding offer from WHP Global through its affiliate WHP Investments to acquire Guess’ outstanding shares for for $13.00 per share in cash. The proposal does not include the shares owned by Guess co-founders Paul Marciano and Maurice Marciano and CEO Carlos Alberini, who collectively own about 43% of the company.

Guess said it has formed a special committee to evaluate the proposal. The company added there is no guarantee “that the proposed transaction in the proposal or any other transaction will be approved or completed.”

The proposal comes after Guess partnered with WHP Global  in 2024 to acquire New York-based fashion brand Rag & Bone.

[Done Deal: Guess completes acquisition of Rag & Bone]

As of November 2, 2024, Guess directly operated 1,057 retail stores in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company’s partners and distributors operated 541 additional retail stores worldwide.

WHP operates a wide array of brands, including Toys”R”Us, Express, Bonobos, Vera Wang and more.

Regency Centers has acquired a new shopping center in a fast-growing market.

The Florida-based mall owner, operator, and investor has acquired the open-air Brentwood Place Shopping Center, located in the affluent Nashville suburb of Brentwood. Brentwood Place spans approximately 320,000 sq. ft., including more than 100,000 sq. ft. of shops. The center is 95% leased, with anchors including Nordstrom Rack, Total Wine, TJ Maxx/HomeGoods, and Golf Galaxy.

Regency says Brentwood Place currently draws over 4.3 million annual visitors due to its strategic placement, and is adjacent to the future 350,000-sq.-ft. Vanderbilt Medical Campus.

“This acquisition aligns with our strategic vision of investing in high-quality retail centers in thriving suburban trade areas with strong demographics,” said Andre Koleszar, managing director of the Southeast at Regency Centers. “Brentwood Place serves a powerful and growing community, and we look forward to further enhancing its appeal and long-term value.”

[READ MORE: Three centers to become one in Connecticut]

Regency Centers operates 470 retail properties across the United States.

Instacart is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Syracuse University to help veterans obtain the right food.

The 12-month pilot program will support rural, homebound, low-income veterans with limited food access in the Syracuse, N.Y. area. The grocery technology company’s Instacart Health initiative designed to promote access to healthy grocery and produce items will provide a $100 Instacart Health Fresh Funds grocery stipend to eligible veterans monthly for 12 months.

The study will focus on veterans with diabetes or hypertension who live in low-income, low-access areas. The program is designed to reduce barriers to food access, improve nutrition adherence, and positively impact clinical health outcomes for veterans living with chronic conditions in rural areas with food insecurity.

Syracuse University will conduct research to evaluate the program’s impact on health, healthcare utilization, costs, and participant satisfaction. The ultimate goal of the project is to generate data that can help shape future “food as medicine” programs across the VA healthcare system.

This pilot is one of several major research initiatives Rockefeller will launch to test the effectiveness of food as medicine programs with veterans, reaching a total of 2,000 veterans across five states. 

In 2024, Instacart partnered with the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) to offer a food assistance program for military families relocating to U.S. Army Fort Cavazos in Texas.

[READ MORE: Instacart offers health-driven shopping options]

“With Instacart Health, we’re committed to using our technology and reach to make healthy food more accessible for all, including by supporting and scaling new research on the impacts of food as medicine interventions on health outcomes and costs of care for various population groups,” Casey Aden-Wansbury, VP of policy & government affairs at Instacart, said in a corporate blog post.

Fast-casual chain Cava is expanding its footprint in the Midwest.

The Mediterranean chain has opened its first location in Indiana at the Fishers District mixed-use retail center in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers. The 3,000-sq.-ft. location features a 40-seat dining room, digital order pick-up and delivery, and will create 25-40 jobs.

Cava also plans to open a second Indianapolis area location later this year. With this new market opening, Cava, which went public in 2023, now operates more than 300 locations in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Cava’s target is 1,000 locations by 2032. It opened 58 net new restaurants in the 2024 fiscal year and expects at least 17% growth in store openings this year.

[READ MORE: Chipotle to open 315 to 345 locations in 2025; Q4 sales, traffic up]

“Our category-defining Mediterranean concept has received a warm welcome in every community we’ve entered and grown in, and we’re excited to bring our vibrant flavors and hospitality to Indiana with the opening of our first Fishers location,” said Brett Schulman, co-founder and CEO of Cava. “We look forward to welcoming the Hoosiers community to our table as we continue delivering on our mission of bringing heart, health and humanity to food.”

Nintendo’s second official store in the United States officially has an opening date.

The video game giant will open its store in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco on May 15. First announced last spring, Nintendo San Francisco will offer video game fans a “unique shopping experience” filled with Nintendo’s characters, worlds and exclusive products including accessories, apparel, home goods and souvenirs available only at the new location.

Nintendo San Francisco will be Nintendo’s second official location in the U.S., joining the Nintendo store at Rockefeller Center in New York City. (Nintendo, however, also has venues at U.S. theme parks.) The two-level NYC store, which officially opened in 2005, features Nintendo games and related merchandise, hardware and accessories. The second floor is devoted to museum-like display cases of Nintendo consoles. 

There are only three Nintendo stores outside of the U.S. They are all located in Japan, in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

[READ MORE: New retail and events destination opens in San Francisco]

Nintendo has sold more than 5.8 billion video games and over 850 million hardware units globally. The company’s franchises, including Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, and more, have become household names worldwide.