STORE SPACES

Seattle -- It’s official: Nordstrom is expanding into Canada. The department store chain on Thursday announced that it will open its first full-line stores in Canada, starting in fall 2014. It named veteran Nordstrom executive Karen McKibbin, most recently VP president and regional manager of Northern California and Hawaii, as president of Nordstrom Canada.

Nordstrom said is partnering with commercial real estate company Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited to lease four stores at shopping centers in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Orlando, Fla. -- The nation’s chain retailers lead the nation when it comes to commercial solar energy use, according to a report released Wednesday by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Vote Solar Initiative advocacy group.

New York -- Microsoft Corp. will open 32 pop-up stores in the United States and Canada in time for the holiday shopping season.

Although the company did not say when the stores would open, it did provide a list of the locations, which include Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden, City, N,Y.; Time Warner Center: The Shops at Columbus Circle, New York City; Perimeter Mall, Atlanta; Oakridge Centre, Vancouver, B.C.; Dadeland Mall, Miami; and San Francisco Centre, San Francisco, to name a few.

Des Moines, Iowa -- Kum & Go and Casey’s General Stores announced that they have signed an agreement for Casey’s to acquire 22 convenience stores from Kum & Go.

The stores are located in Iowa, Missouri and North Dakota.

New York -- The Men’s Wearhouse will make its outlet center debut in the fourth quarter, opening five stores under the Men’s Wearhouse Outlet banner, management said during the company’s recent earnings call with investors. The stores will be located in outlet centers across the United States.

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Casual Male Retail Group is taking a new approach with merchandising and store set-ups for the nationwide roll-out of its DestinationXL (DXL) format, which brings together its value, mid-range and luxury men's apparel under one roof. The chain has outsourced the store set-up function to Great American Group, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Manchester, N.H. -- Clothing retailer Big Dogs has opened a new prototype for future expansion. The new format has opened in three 2,400-sq.-ft. stores, in outlet shopping centers in Alabama, Missouri, and Nevada.

New York -- Nine West has opened the first standalone store for its Vintage America Collection line. The store, in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, reflects the modern bohemian ethos of the brand.