STORE SPACES

ADA: Five Need-to-Know Updates for Retailers & Restaurants
By Kevin Hughes, JLL

1. Keep Your Options — And Doors — Open: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is designed to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities. In effect since 1991, it has undergone updates, affecting most commercial real estate in some fashion. In fact, all commercial spaces used by the public – as well as many employee-use areas – are required by law to comply with ADA regulations.
GE Lighting, Qualcomm to transform store experience with connected lighting
East Cleveland, Ohio -- GE Lighting and Qualcomm Atheros, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., have announced a collaboration to bring indoor positioning technology to retailers, allowing the retailers to pinpoint shoppers’ locations and use mobile apps to personalize the in-store experience.

RILA introduces tool to measure retail sustainability practices

Arlington, Va. – The Retail Industry Leaders Association has released the 2015 Retail Sustainability Management Maturity Matrix, a tool for retail sustainability executives to identify possible pathways to strong environmental sustainability programs. The Matrix, co-developed by RILA and Deloitte Consulting LLP, represents the collective knowledge of many industry experts as to leading sustainability management practices.
Ikea breaks ground on Las Vegas store

Las Vegas -- Ikea has broken ground for its future Las Vegas store.

The 351,000-sq.-ft. store will be built on 26 acres along the northern side of Interstate-215 at Durango Drive, near Sunset Road. Ikea has contracted with R&O Construction to build the project, and store plans reflect the same unique architectural design for which Ikea stores are known worldwide.
Interbrand: Ten 'Must-See' Retail Experiences

New York -- Brand consultancy Interbrand has come up with a fascination list of “must sees,” or 10 inspiring retail experiences (as of April 2015).

Here are the company’s picks:

• Selfridges, London

• Dover Street Market, London and New York
Revolving Doors and ROI

Revolving doors can provide measurable ROI for retail and hospitality – way beyond the widely recognized energy savings from reduced air infiltration. Meet Mark Perkins with Boon Edam, as he discusses revolving-door ROI, branding, the use of existing space, loss prevention and more.
Interbrand taps Victoria Leavitt as CEO of consumer, retail brand experience

New York -- Interbrand, a leading brand consultancy, has named Victoria Leavitt as CEO of consumer & retail brand experience in North America. She will be based in Cincinnati and report directly to Josh Feldmeth, CEO of Interbrand North America.
Johnny Rockets in deal to open 100 locations in China

Aliso Viejo, Calif. -- Johnny Rockets recently signed the largest development deal in the brand's history, with a plan to open 100 restaurants in China, with the first scheduled to open in 2016.
Ikea expands solar power at Stoughton, Mass., store

Stoughton, Mass. -- Ikea has gone live with the expanded solar energy array atop its store that opened nine years ago in Stoughton, Massachusetts. The 51,516-sq.-ft. solar panel addition consists of a 318-kW system built with 1,248 panels, and will produce 385,900 kWh more of electricity annually for the store. It sits atop a 58,575-sq.-ft. store extension completed last summer.
Meijer plans remodel of four Dayton, Ohio area supercenters

Grand Rapids. Mich. - Meijer will invest nearly $50 million in extensive remodel projects for four supercenters located in Kettering, Miami Township, Englewood and Beavercreek, Ohio.