Store Expansion News: July update
Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in July with store expansions and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by CSA, starting with the most recent.
- Uniqlo to expand in Canada The Tokyo-based apparel giant will open four new stores in Canada before the end of the year, with plans to enter Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and Langley. The expansion builds upon the brand’s goal to reach 200 locations in North America by 2027.
- Chick-fil-A ramping up expansion in Puerto Rico The quick-service chicken chain will expand its footprint in Puerto Rico from five to 20-25 restaurants by 2030. Chick-fil-A opened its first location on the island in 2022.
- Humana to open primary care centers at Walmart CenterWell, the health care services business of Humana Inc., said it plans to lease clinical space and open senior-focused primary care centers at 23 Walmart Supercenter stores in Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas.
- Birkenstock opens two-story Paris store The sandal brand’s new Paris location is a two-story, 1,400-sq.-ft. store located near the Centre Pompidou art museum and Paris City Hall. Birkenstock added that it will be opening other stores in several major European cities over the next few years.
- Cilantro Taco Grill plans 110 new locations The fast-casual Mexican chain, which signed its first franchise agreement in January 2024, secured over 100 units in development nationwide in less than six months. One hundred of the new stores are slated to open in Florida.
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- Ace Hardware reaches 5,000 U.S. locations In the first six months, Ace Hardware opened 111 new stores – a record-breaking feat for the retailer. A new store, Fixit Ace Hardware in Roswell, Ga., is recognized as Ace's 5,000th domestic location.
- Qdoba to open 30 new Carolina stores The fast-casual Mexican chain announced a 30-unit development deal with Wichita-based Thrive Restaurant Group, bringing new restaurants to the Carolinas by 2028 in Greenville (N.C.), Wilmington (N.C.), Myrtle Beach (S.C.), Columbia (S.C.) and Greenville (S.C.).
- Wendy's to enter two new European markets The quick-serve restaurant company signed two development agreements with franchisees in the Republic of Ireland and Romania, supporting Wendy’s expansion goals to develop hundreds of restaurants across Europe over the next decade.
- Mango debuts first international location of its teen-focused store concept Spanish fashion giant Mango unveiled the first location beyond its home market of its teen-focused store concept with the opening of a store in London. The 2,475-sq.-ft Mango Teen is located at Foubert’s Place, near Carnaby Street.
- Ikea to open on NYC's Fifth Avenue Ingka Investments has taken a stake in 570 Fifth Avenue, a one million-sq.-ft. Class-A retail and office tower being developed by Extell Development Company. An Ikea store will be located in the building's prime retail space of 80,000 sq. ft.
