News

Story, the innovative retail store in Manhattan that totally reinvents itself every few months, has gone nostalgic with its latest revamp.   Story’s new installation, “Remember When,” offers an immersive retro experience that celebrates Nickelodeon’s memorable characters and iconic shows — “Rugrats” and “Sponge Bob” to name just two — from the ‘90s, just in time for the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon.  

Sur La Table has launched a new solution designed to ensure online shoppers are able to easily find the best product.    The retailer of kitchen and table goods has deployed a tool from Edgecase (its ‘adaptive navigation solution”), which uses cleansed and enriched product attributes to make finding the right product online easier and more inspiring.  

Restoration Hardware has few equals — and spares no expense — when it comes to creating luxurious retail destinations.     The luxury home furnishings retailer’s newest store, at The Gallery at Town Center Plaza, Leawood, Kansas, represents the latest iteration of its next-generation design galleries. The three-level, 56,000-sq.-ft. store includes an entire floor dedicated to the brand’s new concept, RH Modern, complete with an integrated RH Contemporary Art Gallery.  

Ralph Lauren Corp. swung to a loss in its first quarter as costs related to efforts to turn around its business cut into first quarter earnings. But it still managed to beat Wall Street expectations.   The company lost $22 million, or 27 cents per share, versus net income of $64 million, or 73 cents per share, in the year-ago period.     Revenue in the quarter was down 4% to a better-than-expected $1.55 billion.     

When JLL took over retail leasing for 1407 Broadway, just south of Times Square in New York, it decided to break up the four existing retail pads on the ground floor into eight and emphasize food. That plan is now coming into fruition with the signing of Gregory’s Coffee, Juice Generation, Luke’s Lobster, and ‘Witchcraft as the first four tenants.  

Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, and Mark Lore, co-founder and CEO of Jet.com, discussed Walmart’s acquisition of the online site and other industry topics on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”  

Bankrupt Aeropostale Inc. may not be going out of business after all.   The teen apparel chain has resolved a dispute with lenders that threatened to sink a potential bid from a unit of Versa Capital Management to buy the chain out of bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported.   Versa would keep about 500 Aeropostale stores open, according to the report. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding its footprint in the Houston market.   The retailer is looking to open six stores this fall in the Houston area, up from the five it had previously announced, the Houston Business Journal reported.   In November, General Growth Properties announced it had signed lease agreements with Dick’s to open in five GG shopping centers in Houston: Baybrook Mall, Deebrook Mall, First Colony Mall, The Woodlands Mall, and Willowbrook Mall.

It’s no secret that Abercrombie & Fitch has been developing a new prototype.   The chain will unveil its new look early next year, at Polaris Fashion Place, in Columbus, Ohio. The store will herald a new direction for the brand with a new aesthetic and updated merchandise selections. It will be situated on the lower level near Madewell.     Abercrombie has already introduced a new look for its Hollister store brand.