News

The Glimcher Realty Trust pipeline is filled with open-air centers. "We're seeing a lot of opportunity in the market and even our own portfolio with open-air right now," said Michael P. Glimcher, chairman and CEO, Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher.

Over the last three years, Glimcher has acquired five properties. Four were open-air. Today, open-air centers account for about 20% of the company's 29 properties.

Recently, Glimcher shared his insights about open-air and enclosed centers with Chain Store Age contributing writer Michael Fickes.

A guest approaches the concierge desk and asks for help finding a gift. The concierge knows the retail selection and can help. If the product is unavailable here, the concierge will, if necessary, send her to another store across town.

That sounds like Nordstrom service.

But this isn't Nordstrom. It is the concierge desk at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, Calif., a mixed-use development from Los Angeles-based Caruso Affiliated. It's what happens at every center in the Caruso Affiliated portfolio of 2.1 million sq. ft. of retail and residential properties.

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers — C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

Plano, Texas -- In preliminary results, J.C. Penney Co. on Tuesday reported that same-store sales in its first quarter decreased approximately 16.6%, a deeper drop than was expected.  

The company, which will report full results on May 16, said that it anticipates total sales of approximately $2.635 billion for the quarter, down some 16.4% from $3.152 billion in the same period last year.

AUSTIN, Texas — H-E-B announced the statewide winners of its 12th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards during a banquet at Austin’s Hilton Hotel.

At the ceremony, H-E-B chairman and CEO Charles Butt disbursed $585,000 in cash awards and grants and personally congratulated 23 educators, campuses, school districts and one early childhood agency for being among the best in Texas.

SAN DIEGO — Petco's National Adoption Weekend coincides with Mother's Day, and to honor mom on her special day, the retailer is showcasing moms who have adopted or fostered a pet in need while trying to find homes for pets in shelters.

Petco will hold adoption events nationwide from Saturday, May 11 through Sunday, May 12. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet pets in need of homes, speak with local adoption groups about fostering and learn how to properly care for a new pet's physical, mental, social and emotional needs.

MADRID & THOROFARE, N.J. — European fashion apparel retailer C&A is scaling up its Radio Frequency Identification project with Checkpoint Systems, a leading global supplier of shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling solutions for the retail industry, from five to 25 stores.

As part of the C&A project in Germany, Checkpoint is providing RF/RFID antennas, point of sale RFID solution, software and consulting services.

NEW YORK — The Jones Group Inc. has nominated chairman and CEO of Barington Capital Group James A. Mitarotonda to stand for election to the board of directors at the company's 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. 

With the addition of Mitarotonda, the Jones board of directors will expand to 11 members, 8 of whom are independent, 10 of whom are non-management and all of whom are annually elected.