STORE SPACES

Paramus, N.J. -- Ikea said Tuesday it has officially plugged in the solar energy system installed at its location in Paramus, N.J.

Ikea contracted with REC Solar for the development, design and installation of the customized solar power system. The 132,000-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 1,063-kW system, built with 4,620 panels. It will produce approximately 1,359,100 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,033 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 184 cars or powering 117 homes yearly.

Norwalk, Conn. -- Emcor Group announced that its subsidiary, USM, has been awarded a three-year contract for integrated facilties management at 742 Ruby Tuesday-owned restaurants throughout the United States. 

New York -- Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, a Los Angeles community group, as filed an appeal against the building permits granted to Wal-Mart Stores to build a store in the city's Chinatown neighborhood, the Associated Press reported.

The chain obtained necessary permits to build a 33,000-sq-ft. store last week, one day before the City Council was due to vote on a building moratorium for large retail chains in Chinatown, the report said.
 

New York -- Tommy Bahama will open its first New York City location in October.

Dubbed the Tommy Bahama “Manhattan Island,” the 8,500-sq.-ft. store will also include a bar and restaurant. It will be located in an Art Deco building on Fifth Avenue at 45th Street.

New Canaan Conn. -- Gridiron Capital, LLC, in partnership with the founder and existing  management team of Quality Sollutions Inc. announced the acquisition of QSI.

Norwell, Mass. -- An energy project undertaken for The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. by Bluestone Energy Services has been recognized as the Best Multi-Site Retail Energy Program in New England by the Association of Energy Engineers New England (AEENE).

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores was honored with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 Energy Star Award for Sustained Excellence at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes Kohl’s long-term commitment to protecting the environment through energy efficiency initiatives. Kohl’s was recognized by EPA in 2010 and 2011 as an Energy Star Partner of the Year, and in 2011 also became the first retailer to be named an EPA Green Power Partner of the Year for three consecutive years.

New York -- Macy’s on Monday started work on the four-year renovation of its Herald Square flagship in New York City. In the first phase, the retailer is making over its shoe department into what it says will be the “world’s largest shoe floor,” with 300,000 pairs of shoes stepping into a new 63,000 -sq.-ft. space (retail and stock).