Store Expansion News: July update
Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in July with store expansion plans and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent.
•Nordstrom Rack opening 20 stores by November — here are the locations The off-price division of Nordstrom will open 20 stores by Nov. 5, including locations in Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington and more. Nordstrom Rack has also announced seven locations that are slated to open in 2027.
•Gong cha plans big expansion in Texas The Taiwan-based bubble tea brand has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement in Texas with franchise operator Bakers Acres & Cattle Company (BACC). The agreement marks the largest direct franchising deal in Gong cha history and further expands the company’s U.S. footprint. BACC will develop Gong cha’s presence across Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
•Report: H&M Group's Cos ramping up expansion in U.S. Cos, the upscale men’s and women’s fashion brand of Sweden’s H&M Group, is looking to expand its footprint in North America, reported WWD. The brand has signed leases for stores at three Westfield shopping centers: Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park, Calif., Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, Ill., and Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J.
•Report: Ikea opening these seven stores through 2027 — here are the locations The Swedish home furnishings giant will open seven new stores through 2027, reported USA Today. The openings include a smaller-format store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, along with locations in Tulsa, Okla., Madison, Wis., Buffalo, N.Y., Fort Collins, Colo., and more.
•Capriotti's opens 12 new locations with more added to pipeline The Las Vegas-based fast-casual sandwich chain has opened 12 new restaurants at the halfway point of 2026, in addition to awarding development rights for 30 additional locations. The new development activity has introduced Capriotti's into several new markets, including Lake County, Ill.; Killeen, Texas; Tempe, Ariz.; Southern Utah; Charleston, S.C.; and Fort Wayne, Ind.
•Ross Stores expands footprint with nearly 50 June, July store openings The off-price retailer opened 47 new stores nationwide during June and July, including 35 Ross Dress for Less and 12 DD’s Discount locations across 15 states and territories. With these new openings, Ross Stores says it is on track to open approximately 110 stores this year.
•Rita’s sees surge in franchise growth; to expand in Ohio, Texas The frozen dessert chain, which operates more than 600 locations nationwide, says it is on track to double its 2026 new shop signings, experiencing a 100% increase in ownership inquiries compared to last year. Rita’s is also expanding outside its core East Coast and Mid-Atlantic markets into new regions, including Ohio and Texas.
•CVS expands new 'pharmacy-focused' concept into Houston The pharmacy retailer has opened its first scaled-down, pharmacy-focused CVS Pharmacy in Houston, following the debut of the concept in Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Two additional pharmacy-focused locations are planned in the greater Houston area over the next year.
•Midas rolls out new 'industrial' and 'urban' shop concepts The automotive services chain will begin rolling out its two new store concepts, billed as “Contemporary Industrial” and “Urban Modern,” to all new locations and renovations in the United States and Canada. According to the company, “Contemporary Industrial” is suited to high-traffic suburban or highway-adjacent locations with its bold signage, high-contrast branding and functional layout, while “Urban Modern” suits denser, more walkable markets with its large storefront windows, warm accents and retail-inspired interior.
•Qdoba signs deals to expand in two markets; opening 100 restaurants annually The Mexican fast-casual chain has signed two new development agreements to open 30 restaurants in Atlanta, and 20 in Nashville, Tenn. Qdoba plans to double its footprint to approximately 2,000 restaurants within the next eight years.
•Garage to open flagship in NYC; more U.S. locations in works Teen favorite Garage, part of Canada's Groupe Dynamite Inc., will open its largest and most immersive flagship to date in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Located on the corner at Fifth Avenue and E 21 St., the store is set to open in spring 2027. Following the Flatiron launch, Garage will unveil similar multi-level destinations on Newbury Street in Boston, and M Street in Washington’s D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood.
