Target to close 4 small-format stores this spring

Retail Dive
After “multiple years of working to improve performance,” Target confirmed it plans to close four stores on May 13. . . . more

Walgreens Q2 sales rise, profit falls but beats Street

CSA
Walgreens Boots reported second-quarter earnings and sales that beat estimates even amid a sharp volume decline in COVID vaccines and testing, and sales of COVID tests. . . . more

Amazon reportedly considering purchase of AMC Entertainment

Fox Business
Amazon is reportedly weighing the purchase of AMC Entertainment and its nationwide chain of movie theaters as a means of promoting Amazon’s content and other services. . . . more

Torrid to open 30 to 40 stores this year

CSA
Torrid Holdings sees store growth as crucial to its success. . . . more

How 7 fast casual, full-service chains are hiking prices

Restaurant Dive
Even as fast casual and casual brands try to compete with QSRs on value, most have hiked their menu prices over the past year. . . . more

Fogo de Chão says plant-based fare, cocktail lounges attract young diners

Restaurant Dive
For many restaurants a new season means a new menu. But Fogo de Chão, a 56-unit Brazilian steakhouse known for its fire-roasted cooking, is taking seasonality to the next level with vegetarian and pescatarian dishes. . . . more

Millennials plan to stick with online shopping even as stores rebound, new survey finds

CNBC
Millennials have big plans for the year ahead, at least when it comes to their online shopping habits. . . . more

Sally Beauty introduces DIY salon concept store

Retail Dive
Sally Beauty on Thursday opened a DIY hair salon and concept store, dubbed Studio By Sally’s, in Denton, Texas, according to a company press release. . . . more

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet to open 45 new stores n 2023; deal pipeline ‘strong’

CSA
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings reported a 9.7% rise in fourth-quarter sales and said its long-term expansion plans remain on track. . . . more

How Moe’s Southwest Grill Plans to Rapidly Expand

QSR
Moe’s Southwest Grill is a brand with a well-earned reputation for all things burritos, bowls, stacks, quesadillas, and tacos, and, of course, their world famous queso. . . . more

Giant Eagle CEO in abrupt exit

CSA
The chief executive of Giant Eagle has departed after 11 years in the role. . . . more

Kohl’s adding 250 in-store Sephora shops

CSA
Kohl’s Corp. keeps rolling out more store-within-a-store Sephora locations. . . . more

Petco launches fresh food subscription; expanding vet hospitals, rural store format

CSA
Petco Health & Wellness reported its 17th consecutive quarter of comp growth in its fourth quarter, along with its 16th consecutive quarter of customer growth. . . . more

How COVID-19 Remolded Tuscan Village

CSA
Brick and mortar retail was battered and beaten when COVID-19 struck in 2020. Patterns of Americans life were re-arranged, perhaps for good. . . . more

Former Legal Seafoods CEO Debuts Online Lobster, Fish Meal Delivery

WBZ News
A man who made a lot of 'clams' as the Chief Executive Officer of Legal Seafoods is taking his next step in the industry with a meal delivery company that flash-freezes fish and packages lobster for ready-to-heat consumption. . . . more

Placer.ai traffic report: Nike and Lululemon soar above the competition

CSA
Store traffic in the sporting goods apparel sector declined steadily from December through February. But that was hardly the case for the two leaders in the category. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond is closing hundreds of stores, but they won't be empty for long

CBS Boston
Bed Bath & Beyond is stripping down its big blue signs, clearing out aisles of linens and closing 400 stores as it tries to stave off bankruptcy. . . . more

Dollar Tree can't afford to sell eggs anymore

CBS Boston
Eggs have gotten too expensive for Dollar Tree. . . . more

Rite Aid expands retail delivery partnership with Amazon

Supermarket News
Rite Aid has partnered with Amazon to offer Amazon’s Prime members two-hour delivery windows in select zip codes in Newark, N.J. and Burbank, Calif., the e-commerce giant confirmed. . . . more

Restaurant groups, furniture retailer sign first N.H. locations at Tuscan Village

BBJ
Tuscan Village, which is developing into a major retail destination in southern New Hampshire, has landed the first Granite State locations of two restaurant groups and a high-end furniture retailer. . . . more

Restaurants and Inflation: A Recipe for Success or Disaster?

QSR
Inflation and unemployment are two of the most critical indicators that economists and policymakers monitor when discussing the economy's health. . . . more

Dave's Hot Chicken Inks 14-Unit Deal in New York

QSR
Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned breakthrough fast-casual brand, announced that it has inked a franchise agreement with restaurant industry entrepreneurs John and Jeff Froccaro to open 14 new restaurants in New York over the next five years. . . . more

Foot Locker to shift off-mall, expand new formats, close underperforming stores

CSA
Foot Locker reported a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter and unveiled a new plan to move the company forward that includes an increased focus on its core banners and a shift in its real estate strategy. . . . more

Zara to open more U.S. stores on heels of record year

CSA
Inditex, parent company of Zara, reported a record year as shoppers returned in full force to its stores. . . . more

Academy Sports Q4 profit up; opening 13 to 15 stores

CSA
Academy Sports + Outdoors maintained its profit momentum in the fourth quarter even as its sales fell amid the “uncertain” economic environment. . . . more

Five Below to open 200 stores as it widens location strategy; to remodel 400 stores

CSA
Five Below is not backing down from its aggressive expansion even as it warns of the “uncertainty of the macroeconomic” environment. . . . more

CAVA Forges Ahead, the Disruptor it’s Always Been

QSR
CAVA in early February confidentially filed an IPO, a move that could shift a recent tide in foodservice. . . . more

BJ’s Wholesale Club has a new data-collecting robot to roam its aisles

BBJ
Marty, meet Tally. Four years after Stop & Shop introduced Marty, the googly-eyed robot, to roam grocery store aisles to find spills or other hazards and alert employees, BJ’s Wholesale Club is bringing a robot named Tally to its stores. . . . more

J. Jill aims to grow store footprint, eventually

Retail Dive
Thanks to careful inventory management and a customer somewhat insulated financially from the tough macro environment, J. Jill on Tuesday said Q4 net sales edged up 1.7% year over year to $147.7 million. Total comps including e-commerce rose 5.3%. . . . more

What can The Container Store learn from Sephora?

Retail Dive
It was late 2020, and home retailers were booming from a population that was stuck mostly inside their houses. . . . more

Gap posts big loss; executive shakeup includes exit of Athleta CEO

CSA
Gap Inc. widened its fourth-quarter loss, announced several executive leadership changes and said it is close to hiring a new CEO. . . . more

Shaq’s Big Chicken Has Only Begun to Scratch the Surface

QSR
Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern knows he’s holding a different deck than most upstart fast casuals. His ace stands 7-foot-1, 300-plus pounds, and is one of the most recognizable human beings to walk the globe. . . . more

Tuesday Morning wants to close over 250 stores

Retail Dive
As part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring, A&G Real Estate Partners is auctioning about 263 Tuesday Morning store leases in around 38 states that the distressed discount retailer wants to back out of, according to a Wednesday press release and information emailed to Retail Dive from the real estate company. Tuesday Morning filed for bankruptcy on Feb. 14. . . . more

Ulta delivers knockout year with record sales, earnings; to open 25 to 30 stores

CSA
Price increases didn’t stop consumers from stocking up on skincare products, makeup and other items at Ulta Beauty during the fourth quarter. . . . more

Potbelly signs deal for NYC refranchising, development

NRN
Potbelly Corp. has refranchised eight New York City restaurants to United One Group as part of a development deal that calls for 13 new units over the next eight years, the company announced Monday. . . . more

REI to expand in Florida

CSA
REI Co-op is expanding its footprint in the Sunshine State. . . . more

Joann beefs up liquidity ahead of releasing Q4 earnings

CSA
Joann Inc. announced it has entered into a $100 million first-in-last -out (FILO) facility. . . . more

Placer.ai: Malls falter in February

CSA
Malls rang in the new year with a bang in January. All three categories in Placer.ai’s Mall Index—indoor malls, open-air lifestyle centers, and outlets—tallied traffic increases over January 2022. . . . more