STORE SPACES

By Steve Jones   What’s going to keep people coming back to physical store locations, as comfort levels with e-commerce rise every year? Savvy retailers are fighting technology with technology, refreshing the look and feel of their stores by integrating more gadgets, and using data in a more integrated way to inform strategy.  In-store tech helps retailers beat e-tailers at their own game  

Take a video tour of Starbucks's newest retail format, which will serve as launchpad for a 100-store premium coffee chain. 

CANTON, Mass. - Dunkin’ Donuts is launching its own green building certification program, called DD Green, to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants.    In conjunction with the announcement, the company is celebrating the grand opening of a DD Green certified Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Long Beach, California. Dunkin' Donuts will work with franchisees and construction managers to build 100 new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants DD Green certified by the end of 2016.

Houston, Texas - XtraLight is pleased to announce Ron Gilcrease has joined XtraLight as VP of national accounts.   “We are pleased Mr. Gilcrease has chosen to introduce XtraLight and LEDLinX based fixtures to important national accounts across the U.S.,” said Jerry Caroom, XtraLight’s CEO.  

San Bernardino, California - Stater Bros. will open a store in Covina, California on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.     The new “Blue Ribbon” supermarket is the 26th Stater Bros. location in Los Angeles County. It includes many environmentally friendly features, including:   • LED lighting throughout the entire store; • New lighting system that uses dimming ballasts, energy efficient lamps and occupancy sensors;

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Vera Bradley has hired industry veteran-and former Saks executive— Harry Cunningham as head of store development, effective December 8, 2014.

Cunningham has nearly 25 years of experience in store design and visual  merchandising. He has been with Saks Fifth Avenue since 2006, most recently as senior VP of store planning, design and visual merchandising.

Prior to that, he held various visual merchandising roles of increasing responsibility with Liz Claiborne, Saks Department Store Group and Dillard's.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - Ikea plans to increase the solar array atop its store that opened eight years ago in Canton, Michigan. In September, IKEA began work on a 44,000-sq.-ft. expansion to the store, atop which new panels will be installed beginning spring 2015, with a completion by summer.

Academy Service Group, a nationwide provider of facility maintenance services, has acquired Absolute Maintenance, a Northern New Jersey-based facilities maintenance fleet.

Academy Service Group offers pest control, cleaning, janitorial, plumbing, handyman and general maintenance services to its portfolio of multi-site facilities and chain store clients. Michael Rose, CEO of Academy Service Group, has stepped up efforts to expand the self-performing reach in Northern New Jersey and New York City region.