Store Expansion News: May update
Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in May with store expansion plans and new formats.
Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent.
•Burlington in 14th straight quarter of double-digit EPS growth; to open 115 stores The off-price retailer continued to grow its footprint during its most recent quarter, with a net increase of 30 stores. For the full year, Burlington now anticipates 115 net new stores for 2026, ahead of its prior guidance for 110.
•EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Primark unveils Manhattan flagship The global value fashion and home retailer has opened a flagship at 150th W. 34th St. in Herald Square, across from Penn Station in what’s called the Penn District. The 75,000-sq.-ft. Primark location features 54,000 sq. ft of retail space, with four floors showcasing women’s fashion and accessories, menswear, children’s clothing and home goods.
•Tim Hortons to open 80 new Canadian locations in 2026; renovate hundreds more The coffee giant says that 340 Canadian owners are investing their own money to build or renovate 480 restaurants across the country in 2026. Tim Hortons restaurant owners are investing $270 million in the upgrades and new locations, in addition to Tim Hortons corporate investing an additional $130 million. An estimated 80 new locations will open in Canada this year, while 400 will undergo renovations.
•Canada's T&T Supermarket to make California debut, with more to come T&T Supermarket, the largest Asian grocery chain in Canada, will open its first California location, at Westgate Center in San Jose, on June 18. The opening marks the company’s ongoing expansion in the U.S. market, where it has opened locations in Bellevue and Lynwood, Wash.
•Digital-first furniture brand Article to open first U.S. stores — here’s where Canada-based, direct-to-consumer modern furniture brand Article will open its first U.S. locations in the fall, in San Francisco, and Bellevue, Wash., with additional locations to follow. The company said it selected locations on the West Coast based on historically strong e-commerce performance as part of a strategy to build on its existing customer base.
•Chicken Salad Chick in ‘landmark’ deal to expand in New York The fast-growing chain, which bills itself as the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has entered into a 25-unit agreement that will introduce the brand to communities across upstate New York. The Chicken Salad Chicken restaurants will be developed across several key markets in the state, including Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Upper Hudson Valley.
•Whole Foods to expand smaller-store Daily Shop format — here's where The natural and organic foods grocer plans to open Daily Shop locations in Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia during the next two years. To date, three leases have been signed. Whole Foods launched its Daily Shop concept in New York City in 2024.
•Aritzia focused on U.S. store expansion in 2026 — here’s where The Canadian fashion retailer plans to open 12 or 13 new stores in its current fiscal year (fiscal 2027), with the majority in the U.S. Aritzia, which currently operates 76 U.S. locations, sees the potential for approximately 180 to 200 stores in the country.
•Target in biggest store remodel program in a decade — here are the details Target stores across the country — including in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia — are expected to undergo remodels this year. The retailer plans to update 130-plus locations this year, along with opening 30 new stores and making critical supply chain technology upgrades.
•Dick's continues House of Sport expansion — here's where The retailer will open its first House of Sport location in California at The Valley (formerly Mission Valley Shopping Center) in San Diego. The store will occupy the 158,000-sq.-ft. historic former Macy’s building, making it one of the largest House of Sport locations. Dick’s also plans to open a House of Sport location at Rock Run Collection, a 310-acre mixed-use center currently under development in Joliet, Ill.
