REAL ESTATE

Creative anchor joins Union Market District
Washington, D.C. -- EDENS announced Huge, a full-service digital and design firm headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with offices worldwide, will open a new office at Union Market in Washington, D.C. Union Market is a 45-acre district that is planned for over 7 million sq. ft. of space.
Ross rolls on, next stop 2,000 stores
Leading off price retailer Ross Dress for Less has made good on its 2015 growth plans and reaffirmed its long-range targets for existing and newer formats.

On Monday, the company announced the opening of 19 Ross stores and seven dd’s Discounts stores across 14 different states in September and October. The new locations complete the retailer’s 2015 expansion plans to add a total of 90 stores during the year.

Restoration Hardware unveils newest store format

Restoration Hardware unveiled its newest store concept, one aimed at a more modern sensibility than its existing stores.

The retailer says its new brand, RH Modern, aims to offer one of the most fully integrated assortments of modern furnishings, lighting and décor under one brand in the world. The multichannel business debuts with its own 540-page magazine-catalog hybrid, a dedicated website, and a significant retail presence, including a standalone RH Modern store.
Shoe Carnival names retail vet as senior VP of real estate

Shoe Carnival tapped Jeff Fink as senior VP real estate, effective Oct. 12. He will oversee the company’s store site selection and lease administration functions.

Fink joins Shoe Carnival with over 27 years of experience in the real estate industry focusing on footwear and specialty retail. Most recently, he worked for La-Z-Boy, as VP of real estate.

From 2003 to 2014, Fink worked for Jo-Ann Stores as senior VP, real estate and lease administration where he oversaw the addition of 366 stores totaling 2.8 million retail sq. ft.
New store concept targeting Latinos has big plans

The two executives behind Curacao, a Los Angeles-based department store chain targeting Hispanics, have left the company to start a new retail brand called Star World.
French retailer ready for U.S. pillow fight

There’s an artsy home linens player in town, and comes complete with a French accent.

French home décor and lifestyle brand Madura, best known for its artful and colorful decorative pillows, has opened a flagship in New York City’s Flatiron neighborhood. It’s the opening salvo in the family-run company’s expansion efforts in the United States.
Ross Dress for Less expands in Florida

Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in West Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Oct. 10.

The 26,000-sq.-ft. store is located in Westfork Plaza.

With this new location, Ross will operate 153 stores in Florida. The opening is part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.
Now Trending: Reflecting on Macy’s store closures

When Macy’s announced in early September that it planned to close between 35 and 40 underperforming stores, the move certainly made headlines. Unfortunately for Macy’s, it also made sense. Because, as most analysts and industry observers can attest, it only reaffirmed a storyline that has been developing for many years now: department stores are in trouble.
SPECS Profile: Randy Pannell, VP Construction, Saks Fifth Avenue

Twenty-three year SPECS attendee Randy Pannell, VP of construction for Saks Fifth Avenue, shares his thoughts on SPECS, Chain Store Age’s annual store planning/construction and facilities conference, which will be held March 13-15, 2016, in Dallas. For more on the event, click here.

Why do you attend SPECS each year?
To be honest, in the early years, SPECS was really just a trade show to me. But I soon realized that it was more than that. It really worked!
A fresh new look for A&P

The Stop & Shop division of Ahold hopes to excite food shoppers in the New York area by bringing its brand of retail to 25 tired stores it acquired from A&P.

Stop & Shop completed its acquisition of the A&P stores on Oct. 8 and said it plans to convert the locations in groups of five with the entire process completed by Friday, Nov. 13. Store being converted will close for roughly seven days to allow crews to complete the process.