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RANDOM NOTES

Fast-fashion giant H&M debuted a new retail concept, called COS, in London. With a sleek design by William Russell, the two-story, 4,860-sq.-ft. space has an upscale feel, with white walls, modernist wood and metals, minimal fixtures and lounge areas with Scandinavian-styled sofas. H&M plans to roll out another 10 COS shops this year, with locations set to open in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. (For additional photos of COS, visit Picture This at www.chainstoreage.com.)… Tommy Bahama has expanded its retail brand with the opening of Relax in Naples, Fla. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store is devoted primarily to the Tommy Bahama Relax sportswear collection for men and also features women’s swimwear, cover-ups and accessories. The store design is clean and contemporary, with a light, white environment that contrasts with the bright color palette of the Relax line.… Abercrombie & Fitch opened its first store in Europe, a flagship on tony Savile Row in London. The store is located in a nearly 300-year-old building that was built as a private residence, but was altered over the years and eventually served as a branch of the Bank of England. It took 18 months to restore the space, and architectural features from the many different eras of the building were incorporated into the design. The store has the same club feel, pulsating music and dark look as the company’s Manhattan flagship.… Supermarket operator Publix is switching from its signature pastel colors to a more vibrant palette, with hunter green as the dominant hue. The new look includes nostalgic-themed murals.

NEW PROJECTS

Britain’s famed toy retailer Hamleys, founded in 1760, has retained Chute Gerdeman Retail, Columbus, Ohio, to design a new store prototype. The first store with the new look will open in Dubai next year. Chute Gerdeman also will translate the concept to Hamleys’ 45,000-sq.-ft. flagship on London’s Regent Street.

COMPANY/PERSONNEL UPDATES

Marco Retail Group (MRG), Northville, Mich., has been relaunched as an independent company specializing in international retail strategy, planning and design (Nick Giammarco remains the creative principal). The company, formerly known as Cubellis Marco Retail, has dissolved its association with Cubellis Inc., Boston.… Callison, Seattle, has added a new service: Callison Real Estate Strategies will offer strategic business and real estate analysis and planning.