STORE SPACES

First Look: Amazon’s new high-tech hair salon

Amazon is entering yet another brick-and-market segment and this one could be the most unexpected to date. The tech giant will open its first-ever hair salon, in London’s hip Spitafields district, where it said it will trial the “latest industry technology,” including augmented reality hai
First Look: Harry Potter New York

A themed flagship featuring the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts merchandise under one roof is set to open in the Big Apple.

Athleta to open 20 to 30 stores annually; to enter Canada

Gap Inc. is expanding its popular women’s athletic apparel brand — and not just in the United States.
Raley’s to convert all stores to new banner

Raley’s has big plans for its Raley’s O-N-E Market format.
Placer.ai: Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods chart new paths in 2021

Athletic apparel retailers Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods are flipping to a new page of their playbooks.
Amazon takes lead in purchasing global renewable energy

Amazon is launching nine new utility-scale wind and solar energy projects in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.
Whole Foods adopts next-gen refrigerant to lower carbon footprint, save energy

Whole Foods Market is switching to an alternative refrigerant with a lower global-warming potential.
Three ‘store of the future’ formats you can visit today

The technology-enabled “store of the future” is developing now, in several different directions.
Macy’s bullish on its off-price format

Macy’s is expanding its off-price Backstage concept – in-store and in freestanding locations.
Walmart to test in-store Le Madeleine bakery, café

Walmart is partnering with a casual restaurant brand known for its “French comfort food.”
Stores, restaurants shuttered in 2020 had one thing in common…

The pandemic took its heaviest toll business-wise on smaller retailers and restaurant operators.
Sheetz expands in Central Ohio with big plans

Sheetz has opened its first store in the Columbus, Ohio, market with more to come.
Survey: Consumers want digitally integrated stores

Customers value brick-and-mortar stores, but have specific expectations for the in-store experience.
Dick’s Sporting Goods unveils new store concept — complete with outdoor track

Dick’s Sporting Goods has gone experiential.

News and analysis on new brick-and-mortar concepts, store design, construction and facilities management.