STORE SPACES

Subway going all in with LEDs
Subway has upped its commitment to sustainability. As a part of the restaurant chain's ongoing goal to make its restaurants and operations more socially responsible, the company has made LED lighting the standard for all new and remodeled restaurants. The upgrade will provide energy-efficient lighting that, in 2014 with a small percentage of stores participating, saved 21.9 million kilowatt hours – enough energy to power 1,996 households in a single year.
Report: Kohl’s testing in-store café
Kohl’s is testing small cafes at two locations in the Milwaukee area, Fortune reported. The pilot is the latest in a series of in-store customer enhancements.

Ikea goes renewable in Missouri

Ikea continues its commitment to renewable energy with the opening of its store in St. Louis.

The 380,000-sq.-ft. store, the Swedish company’s first in the state of Missouri and 41st in the United States, features the largest rooftop solar array in the state of Missouri.

It is also the first Ikea location in the United States that is lit entirely with LEDs, both inside and out. It is also the first to open with LED lighting for sale.

To date, Ikea has a renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.
Hussman acquires Commercial Refrigerator Door

Hussmann Corporation has acquired Commercial Refrigerator Door Company, Sarasota, Florida.

Family owned and operated since 1975, Commercial Refrigerator Door offers a full line of Styleline products, including heated and energy-free glass door and frame systems for walk-in coolers and freezers and a wide range of shelving and merchandising accessories.
CSA’s X/SPECS announces digital innovation theme

Chain Store Age’s 13-year-old Executive SPECS event has been rebranded X/SPECS to underscore a new focus on innovation and in-store technologies.

X/SPECS 2015, to be held Oct. 27-29 in Scottsdale, Arizona, will showcase the evolution of physical stores and the role that technology plays in transforming the in-store customer experience through a series of exciting presentations that will include:
High-performance accent lighting helps Shop Rite come alive

Creative use of lighting is having a major impact on the in-aisle customer experience at a new ShopRite store.

The 90,000-sq.-ft. supermarket, in Burlington, New Jersey, uses high-performance accent lighting from Amerlux Lighting Solutions.
Nasty Gal makes LEDs the in-store standard

New York -- Teen fave Nasty Gal is deploying cutting-edge LED technology to show off its on-trend fashions.

The online retailer has opened two brick-and-mortar stores (one in Los Angeles and the other in Santa Monica), and both feature LEDs by Solais Lighting, a division of PowerSecure Lighting and part of PowerSecure International.
Five Tips to Improve the In-Store Experience

Much has been said lately about the proliferation of mobile and online shopping. But brick-and-mortar retail continues to thrive – a fact that tends to get glossed over.
Construction webcams simplify management of interior build-outs

Interior build-outs in the retail sector can be some of the most expensive construction projects, with cost per unit area far exceeding that of an exterior build. They are also often more logistically complex. For example, coordination of all the different trades and the delivery of materials, fixtures, and products is key to ensuring quality, containing costs, and avoiding delays.
Johnny Rockets seeks to expand Asian foothold

Aliso Viejo, Calif. – Johnny Rockets is now focusing its global expansion efforts on developments in Southeast Asia. The casual dining chain is seeking area developers for expansion into Thailand and Vietnam.

Johnny Rockets currently operates Southeast Asian franchise stores in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia through its 14 open restaurants and eight others in development.