Centennial hatches plan to let people shop their malls like they shop Amazon

CSA
Back in March and April, when the COVID-19 pandemic began putting malls out of business, Centennial executives hunkered down in a series of defensive planning meetings to weather the crisis.. . . more

Flywheel Files For Bankruptcy, To Close Locations

Plain Vanilla Shell
Flywheel Sports Inc., the cycling studio, has reportedly filed for Chapter 7 liquidation with a plan to close its remaining 28 locations.. . . more

Squisito Pizza & Pasta: Please don't call it just a pizzeria

Plain Vanilla Shell
There are some ironies in the story of Maryland-based Squisito Pizza & Pasta. First, there's the fact that the brand's founder, Gennaro DiMeo, opted to specialize in New York-style pizza despite coming to the U.S. at age 15 from his birthplace of Naples, Italy.. . . more

Dressbarn to offer contactless returns

Retail Dive
Happy Returns will facilitate Dressbarn's return processes, including providing software and reverse logistics for the apparel retailer. . . . more

A case for radical retail reinvention

Retail Dive
In a case of cinematically bad timing, three of the largest retail projects to hit the New York City metro area opened less than a year before a historic pandemic shut everything down.. . . more

CVS offers special access to Apple Fitness+

CSA
CVS Health is developing integrated subscription plans for the new Apple Fitness+ digital fitness experience.. . . more

Hobby Lobby to raise minimum wage to $17 per hour

CSA
Hobby Lobby Stores is poised to become one of the highest-paying U.S. retailers when it comes to starting wages for full-time workers. . . . more

New York Sports Club owner files for bankruptcy, with gyms hit by pandemic

CNBC
New York Sports Club owner Town Sports International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday, with many gyms nationwide still shut by the coronavirus pandemic.. . . more

Batteries Plus Poised for Expansion Due to Essential Demand for Batteries, Lights and Repairs

Plain Vanilla Shell
As a result of the ongoing pandemic and the ever-increasing demand for essential products that fill consumer's immediate needs, one national specialty retailer is experiencing unprecedented growth.. . . more

PetSmart to offer same-day delivery through DoorDash

Retail Dive
PetSmart will offer on-demand, same-day delivery through DoorDash at more than 1,400 of its locations across the U.S., according to a company press release emailed to Retail Dive.. . . more

J.Jill in agreement to avoid bankruptcy; will restructure out of court

CSA
J.Jill has managed to avoid taking a trip bankruptcy court.. . . more

Leases for 280 Stein Mart stores are on the market

CSA
A&G Real Estate Partners announced it has begun marketing leases for 280 Stein Mart locations being closed in connection with the company’s bankruptcy filing.. . . more

First Look: Apple’s most ambitious store yet floats on the water

CSA

Apple has opened a store that sits on the waters of Marina Bay in Singapore.. . . more

Connecticut’s largest mall’s fate rests on zoning board’s decision

CSA
The Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Conn., lost its Sears and J.C. Penney and wants to fill those empty spaces with luxury apartments that owner Centennial thinks would fill a need in the community and save the property.. . . more

Chewy has already added more customers this year than in all of 2019

Retail Dive
Chewy on Thursday reported that second quarter net sales grew 47% to $1.69 billion, with auto-ship sales delivering $1.16 billion or 68.3% of that, according to a 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.. . . more

Owner of Boston Sports Clubs files for bankruptcy protection

WCVB
The owner of Boston Sports Clubs filed for bankruptcy protection, adding to the frustrations of its customer base amid the coronavirus pandemic.. . . more

Boston’s Iconic Pop-Up Village to Open with New Stores for Fall and Holiday Shopping at Seaport

Boston Real Estate Times
The Current in Seaport will support an entrepreneurial collection of seven businesses beginning this September. The retail incubator will house these brands beginning this fall through the holiday season.. . . more

Kroger posts strong Q2 as digital sales jump 127%

CSA
The Kroger Co. reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and sales amid surging digital growth.. . . more

Papa John’s Announces Significant Development Deal to Expand in Philadelphia Area

Restaurant News
Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced the signing of its largest traditional store development agreement in North America in over 20 years, accelerating growth of the Papa John’s brand in the Philadelphia area.. . . more

GNC strengthens order management capability

CSA
A leading vitamins and supplements retailer is compressing delivery times and optimizing order orchestration and fulfillment.. . . more

Lululemon to expand holiday pop-ups to 70 to ease pandemic pressure

Retail Dive
For the holiday season, Lululemon will expand its 50 pop-ups to 70, adding some near existing stores, and has developed omnichannel and communications options, to promote social distancing requirements due to the pandemic, according to a conference call transcript from Motley Fool.. . . more

Macy’s and Kohl’s Are Starting to See Their Store Traffic Recover in Hard-Hit Coronavirus States

Footwear News
Things are starting to look up for some department stores that had experienced plummeting traffic as the coronavirus pandemic made its way across the United States over the past six months.. . . more

Century 21 Goes Bankrupt

Plain Vanilla Shell
Century 21 Stores has gone bankrupt.. . . more

Home Depot cancels Black Friday

CNN Business
Black Friday as you know it is gone this year at Home Depot.. . . more

GameStop is closing hundreds more stores

CNN Business
GameStop is closing about 100 more stores than it originally planned, with the struggling retailer warning of more closures next year.. . . more

Whole Foods to offer pickup from nearly all of its stores by end of month

CSA
Whole Foods Market plans to offer grocery pickup from 480 stores by the end of this month, a company spokesperson said. . . . more

First Look: Michaels unveils new concept stores

CSA
The Michaels Companies has debuted an enhanced shopping experience complete with a new layout, “inspiration hubs” and an innovative checkout design.. . . more

American Eagle swings to Q2 loss but Aerie continues to soar; closing 40 to 50 stores

CSA
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. reported smaller-than-expected second-quarter losses and sales that beat expectations, boosted by intimates brand Aerie.. . . more

LVMH pulls out of mega-deal to buy Tiffany; U.S. jeweler fires back

CSA
The biggest-ever deal in luxury retail is off — at least “as it stands” now.. . . more

Simon and Brookfield reportedly in $800 million deal to acquire J.C. Penney

CSA
Two mall owners have come to the rescue of embattled J.C. Penney.. . . more

The Paper Store emerges from bankruptcy

Retail Dive
Gift retailer The Paper Store exited Chapter 11 Tuesday, after filing for bankruptcy less than 50 days ago.
. . . more

Kohl’s launches new loyalty program

CSA
Kohl’s Corp. is rolling out a new, more personalized loyalty program in time for the holidays.. . . more

Neiman Marcus reorg plan approved; to exit Chapter 11 by end of September

CSA
Neiman Marcus Group has received court approval of its Chapter 11 reorganization plan.. . . more

Coldwater Creek assets acquired by Hong Kong-based company

CSA
Coldwater Creek will be revived – online and in print.. . . more

San Francisco is going to get a new mall—from Ikea

CSA
One sees more stories about old malls closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, not new ones opening.. . . more

Lululemon Q2 tops expectations; ‘cautiously optimistic’ about remainder of year

CSA
Lululemon reported a better-than-expected second quarter as consumers flocked to its website and its stores reopened. . . . more

Texas chains Luby's and Fuddruckers will be up for sale in liquidation plan

CNN Business
Luby's, known for its namesake cafeterias that sell comfort food and the burger chain Fuddruckers, is planning to put its restaurants up for sale.. . . more

Costco Opens in Multiple Markets in U.S. and Canada

Plain Vanilla Shell
Ever on an upward trajectory, Costco is continuing to expand its hold on the retail landscape with new locations popping up in the United States and Canada.. . . more

Levin Leichtman Acquires Tropical Smoothie Café

Plain Vanilla Shell

Levin Leichtman Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Los Angeles, announced Tuesday that it has acquired Tropical Smoothie Café.. . . more

Jobs in these industries won't come back even after the pandemic is over

CNN Business
The pandemic has shaken up the US workforce.. . . more

What's in a flagship?

Retail Dive
Gap closing stores isn’t really news. The apparel retailer has been closing hundreds as it works to build back its brand, grow its e-commerce and get away from the mall. The company just announced yet more will shut down this year and next.. . . more

Midwest sporting goods retailer brings checkout to the customer

CSA
Scheels is equipping store associates with a mobile POS/CRM solution.. . . more

Michaels ups holiday hiring

CSA
The Michaels Companies is one of the first retailers to announce its hiring plans for a holiday season that is likely to be far different than years past.. . . more

9 retailers that are avoiding the industry's shakeout and opening stores

CNBC
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the retail industry and pushed dozens of companies into bankruptcy.. . . more

J. Jill sales plummet 49%

Retail Dive
J. Jill on Thursday reported that second quarter net sales fell 49% to $92.6 million from $180.7 million in the year-ago period, with direct-to-consumer sales reaching 71.6% of that, compared to 42.6% last year.. . . more

The Paper Store emerges from bankruptcy

Retail Dive
Gift retailer The Paper Store exited Chapter 11 Tuesday, after filing for bankruptcy less than 50 days ago.
. . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods sets store openings for September

CSA
Dick’s Sporting Goods keeps expanding its nationwide footprint.. . . more

Walmart’s holiday plans include letting kids try out toys — virtually

CSA
Walmart’s annual hottest toys list is out and it’s an indication of how the pandemic has upended so many retail traditions.. . . more

Check out Burger King’s ‘touchless’ – and smaller restaurants of the future

CSA
Burger King unveiled two futuristic restaurant designs that offer a “touchless” experience, complete with conveyor belts that deliver orders to customers.. . . more

Retail to open at American Dream on October 1

CSA
H&M, Primark, and Zara will finally open their stores at American Dream—Triple Five’s long-stalled New Jersey mega-mall—on Oct. 1.. . . more

Five Below Q2 tops Street; plans 110 to 120 new stores, 45 remodels

CSA
Five Below isn’t letting the pandemic get in the way of its store expansion.. . . more

The Backroom: When malls buy their tenants

Retail Dive
It started in April. Retailers, pummeled by a health crisis that forced an unexpected wave of store closures, started looking for creative ways to tighten their belts. On the list of costs retailers were struggling to address: rent. . . . more

Back-to-school shoppers are showing up after all, study shows

Retail Dive
The back-to-school season isn't going to be as strong as it was last year, when August store visits rose 5.1% at Target, 3.7% at Best Buy and 2.5% at Walmart. But recent footfall analysis from Placer.ai suggests it is nevertheless set to come to the aid of retailers.. . . more

A&W Restaurants Posts Third Straight Month of Double-Digit Comp-Sales Growth

Restaurant News
Sales at franchised A&W restaurants soared 12% in July, the third straight month of double-digit same-store sales growth. By comparison, year-over-year average weekly sales at U.S. limited-service burger chains increased only 1.7%, according to Cardlytics.. . . more

Retail's pandemic imperative: Reinventing the front end

CSA
The coronavirus pandemic is fundamentally changing the way people shop; not just now, but for the foreseeable future. And as with any seismic shift, opportunity abounds.. . . more

At Home reports its best-ever quarterly comps, profitability

CSA
At Home reported a strong second quarter as consumers continued to spend time and money on decorating
and organizing their homes – a trend the retailer sees persisting for some time to come. . . . more

Macy’s to test smaller stores in non-mall locations; expects drawn-out holiday

CSA
Macy’s is looking at different locations to grow its brand. It’s also preparing for a holiday season that will be different from years past.. . . more

Target dives even deeper into grocery with big expansion of its private brand

CSA
Target Corp. is adding hundreds of new products to its private-label food brand, Good & Gather. It’s also adding a premium line extension.. . . more

Rent collections tick up at Kimco properties

CSA
Kimco, one of the largest owners of grocery-anchored and open-air shopping centers in the United States, announced that traffic, occupancy rates, and rent collections continued trending upward in August.. . . more

Jordan’s Furniture enhances online, customer support experiences

CSA
Jordon’s Furniture is deploying an artificial intelligence-enabled live engagement platform to support digital service and sales.. . . more

Build-A-Bear Workshop Q2 online sales sizzle

CSA
Build-A-Bear Workshop swung to a wider quarterly loss as its stores remained dark for a good part of the period.. . . more

Old Navy to pay store employees who serve as poll workers on Election Day

CSA
Old Navy is encouraging its store workforce to play an active role in the upcoming election.. . . more

Done Deal: Brooks Brothers acquired

CSA
The nation’s oldest apparel company has new owners.. . . more

Check out Whole Food Market’s first permanent online-only physical store

CSA
Whole Foods Market has opened a new location in Brooklyn, New York, but the public is not invited.
. . . more

Walmart takes wraps off membership program

CSA
Walmart is taking on Amazon - again. . . . more

Golden Gate Capital Sells Red Lobster

Plain Vanilla Shell
Golden Gate Capital announced Monday it’s agreed to sell its remaining equity stake in Red Lobster to a consortium of existing brand investor Thai Union and Red Lobster management.. . . more

David's Bridal partners with Affirm for monthly payment plans

Retail Dive
On Wednesday, David's Bridal and Affirm announced a partnership to provide customers with monthly installment payments on their purchases, according to a press release emailed to Retail Dive.. . . more

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to expand in New York metro area

CSA

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has returned to New York City.. . . more

Rite Aid’s former CEO to lead Walgreens ops

CSA
Walgreens Boots Alliance has tapped the former chief executive of Rite Aid to head its U.S. operations. . . more

Speed Mart: The Small Chain With Big Ideas

CStore Decisions
Crossville, Tenn.-based Speed Mart President Viral Patel has been working in convenience stores since he was a teenager, shortly after emigrating from India. Now, he and his extended family operate seven Speed Mart stores across middle Tennessee that employ family and nearly 30 others.. . . more

Dollar General Ramps Up Remodeling Amid Record Sales

Plain Vanilla Shell
Remodeling efforts that emphasize food and consumables are working so well at Dollar General that the retailer plans to accelerate the program.. . . more

Penney’s lenders to make bid for chain

CSA
It’s close to crunch time for embattled J.C. Penney.. . . more

Bankrupt parent of New York & Company in new deal to sell e-commerce business

CSA

New York & Company is getting a new owner but it’s not Sunrise Brands.. . . more

J.C. Penney expands curbside pickup

CSA

The struggling department store retailer is bringing its “Style on the go” omnichannel shopping program
to more stores.. . . more

Circle K Acquires Wadsworth Oil

C-Store Decisions
Circle K has acquired Wadsworth Oil Company of Clanton Inc.. . . more

How Sephora prepped for an e-commerce onslaught

Retail Dive
Sephora has an annual sale event in the spring. Loyal shoppers plan their hauls, and brands sold by the retailer promote it like Amazon's Prime Day or Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale. But this year, the sale had a significance in ways brands and shoppers may never know.. . . more

Tiffany swings back to profit in Q2

Retail Dive
Tiffany & Co. on Thursday reported that second quarter net sales fell 29% to $747 million as comparable sales declined 24%. E-commerce grew 123%, and for the first half of the year was about 15% of total global net sales, versus 6% in each of the last three fiscal years.. . . more

Sales, earnings grow at Dollar Tree

CSA
Dollar Tree harvested some impressive results in Q2 fiscal 2020.. . . more

Abercrombie swings to Q2 profit; digital sales a bright spot

CSA
Despite falling net sales, Abercrombie & Fitch had some good news in Q2 fiscal 2020.. . . more

First Look: Amazon debuts new high-tech grocery store

CSA
The future of brick-and-mortar grocery may be here, with the name Amazon Fresh.. . . more

Hobby Lobby Expands Footprint with Three New Stores in Florida

Plain Vanilla Shell
Hobby Lobby is in the midst of expanding its Florida footprint with three new 55,000-square-foot stores. . . . more

Michaels creates new bulk buying program for SMBs

CSA
The Michaels Companies Inc. is targeting small-to-mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and entrepreneurs with a tailored assortment and shopping services.. . . more

First Look: Foot Locker expands ‘power’ store format

CSA
Foot Locker has brought its customer- and community-centric “power” format to the West Coast. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond cuts 2,800 jobs in reorg

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is eliminating 2,800 jobs across its stores and headquarters in its ongoing effort to cut costs and streamline operations as it focuses on online sales.. . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods plays hard in Q2 with highest-ever sales, earnings

CSA
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported soaring second-quarter earnings and sales, with a nearly 200% increase in online revenue, as more consumers bought its goods to stay active during the pandemic. Its results crushed Street estimates. . . . more

Lord & Taylor expands closing sales to all stores

CSA
The country’s oldest department store is inching closer to shuttering all its stores.. . . more

BJ's Wholesale notches 300% digital growth

Retail Dive
On Friday, BJ's Wholesale Club rolled out its contactless curbside pickup service to all of its stores and announced the expansion of its buy online, pick up in-store offering to include fresh and frozen grocery goods at select stores, according to a company press release. That service will be available at the rest of the retailer's locations by the end of October.. . . more

Estée Lauder will close up to 15% of its stores, exit some department stores

Retail Dive
Estée Lauder on Thursday announced a two-year post-pandemic "Business Acceleration Program" in conjunction with its fourth quarter earnings, which includes reducing its physical footprint and shifting priorities online.. . . more

J. Crew’s reorganization plan is approved

CSA
J. Crew Group is getting a new start.. . . more

The Vitamin Shoppe boosts online delivery capability

CSA
A leading specialty health-and-wellness retailer now offers same-day delivery in partnership with Instacart.. . . more

Retail bankruptcies subside, but will return with a vengeance in Q1 2021

CSA
Retailers whose businesses have been devastated by the pandemic but who have enough cash on hand to remain in operation through the holidays will do so.. . . more

Best Buy reports strong Q2 as online sales jump 242%; sounds cautious note

CSA

Best Buy Co. reported strong second-quarter earnings and sales, fueled by its largest online sales gain to date and better-than-expected store sales.. . . more

Lidl to open 50 new stores; here are the locations

CSA
Lidl US is revving up its expansion along the East Coast.. . . more

CBL plans to file for bankruptcy by October after deal with lenders

Retail Dive
CBL Properties has made a restructuring deal with a majority of bondholders that calls for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Oct. 1, according to a press release.. . . more

A look back at the long history of Lord & Taylor

Retail Dive
With Lord & Taylor adrift once again, in search of a buyer that might be willing to turn back years of neglect, it's easy to forget that the department store was a cutting edge retailer for well more than a century.. . . more

Mall of America misses another mortgage payment, enters forbearance agreement

CSA
After having missed three mortgage payments, Mall of America’s collateral value has slipped from $2.3 billion to $1.9 billion, and it has entered into a forbearance agreement that would provide it with enough
cash to avoid foreclosure, according to a report in the Minneapolis StarTribune.. . . more

Slate Retail REIT changes its name

CSA
To make it absolutely plain that its business is 100% based on grocery-anchored shopping centers, the Slate Retail REIT has changed its name to Slate Grocery REIT.. . . more

Web strategist: Walmart is far ahead of Amazon in the last mile

CSA
Not too many years ago, Walmart’s e-commerce operations were largely overshadowed by Amazon. No more, according to a web optimization consultant who specializes in retail and financial services clients.. . . more

Store visits surge at Dollar General

CSA
The “dollar” or value retail sector is booming amid the pandemic. So is Best Buy.. . . more

Parent company of Kings Food Market, Balducci's files for bankruptcy

CSA
A private-equity company has made a move to acquire two New York metro area upscale grocers.. . . more

Brothers-in-Law Open Their First MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes in Guilford, Connecticut

Restaurant News
Brother-in-law business partners Nesh and Kal Patel are opening their first MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast casual, “better burger” franchise featuring an updated store design, in the charming town of Guilford, Conn. on August 24th. The duo first tried MOOYAH at the Storrs, Conn. location and were so impressed by the product and experience that they wanted to open a MOOYAH restaurant of their own. The restaurant is located in the Guilford Commons at 1919 Boston Post Rd.. . . more

GetUpside Launches in Nine New Markets

CStore Decisions
The company enables customers to get cash back on gas ​while ​businesses earn more profit​.. . . more

L Brands warns that the holidays could be tough this year

Retail Dive
With most stores reopened after closing due to the pandemic, Victoria's Secret weighed down L Brands in the second quarter, when net sales fell 20% to $2.3 billion. Bath & Body Works sales rose 13%, thanks to 191% growth in e-commerce, with sales at company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada falling 23%. Victoria's Secret sales fell 39%, with sales at the company-owned stores falling 70% and e-commerce up 65%.. . . more

Sally Beauty, CosmoProf launch accelerator for women-owned brands

Retail Dive
Sally Beauty and CosmoProf debuted the second iteration of Cultivate, an accelerator for women-owned brands looking to expand their nail, hair color and hair care ventures. The program is accepting applications until Sept. 7.. . . more

Rolling Stones to take on retail with flagship store

CSA
The Rolling Stones are ready to paint the town red and black.. . . more

L.L. Bean partners with Mastercard

CSA
L.L. Bean and Mastercard have teamed up for some outdoor learning.. . . more

Giant Food Powers Through Pandemic to Open New Store

Plain Vanilla Shell
After a several-month delay related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Giant Food opened a new 53,000-square-foot store in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Fairfax, Virginia, that reflects the company’s latest merchandising approach and foodservice modifications.. . . more

Target adds fresh, frozen grocery items to pick-up at most stores

CSA
Target has expanded the availability of fresh and frozen grocery items for in-store and online pickup.. . . more

Taco Bell Continues to Redefine the QSR Experience and Announces Plans for New Restaurant Concept

Restaurant News
Taco Bell, a brand that prides itself in evolving to deliver on changing consumer behavior, is at it again. As seen in its recent menu evolution and digital rehaul, the brand has continued to redefine itself across all consumer touchpoints.. . . more

The strategy behind turning department stores into warehouses

Retail Dive
Fulfillment for e-commerce requires three times the warehousing space of traditional brick-and-mortar store inventory, given the greater variety of SKUs and space-intensive shipping and parcel operations. With e-commerce growing in the pandemic, supply chain players are scooping up space where they can find it, especially if it's close to areas with high population density.. . . more

Barnes & Noble wants to be a great bookseller again

Retail Dive
When U.K. bookseller James Daunt took over as CEO of Barnes & Noble a year ago, after a sale that landed it in private hands, he faced the formidable challenge of rescuing the chain from troubles largely of its own making, in the shadow of Amazon's prowess in the segment.. . . more

Modell's brand sold to owner of Dressbarn, Pier 1 IP

Retail Dive
The Modell's Sporting Goods brand sold last week to Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), which bought the the Dressbarn brand in 2019 and the Pier 1 brand out of bankruptcy this year.. . . more

Love’s Travel Stops keeps expanding

CSA
Love’s Travel Stops has opened its largest location to date.. . . more

Lord & Taylor still looking for new owner; closing more stores

CSA
The country’s oldest department store retailer is still looking for a white knight even as more of its stores are going dark.. . . more

Lowe’s in blow-out quarter with earnings near $3B mark

CSA
Lowe’s Companies saw its second-quarter U.S. same-store sales rise 35.1% as consumer spending on home projects continues to surge amid the pandemic.. . . more

Krispy Kreme sets opening date for Times Square flagship

CSA
Krispy Kreme is about to open up for business in Times Square — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.. . . more

Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank retailers launch BOPIS

CSA
Two store banners of Tailored Brands are introducing free buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) programs.. . . more

TJX posts Q2 loss; sales fall amid store closures, inventory challenges

CSA
TJX Cos. swung to a second-quarter loss as its store fleet remained dark for nearly a third of the period due to the pandemic. But it ended the quarter with $6.6 billion cash on hand. . . . more

CBL initiates Chapter 11 restructuring and plans to 'continue as normal'

CSA
CBL Properties, one of the nation’s largest owners of enclosed malls in secondary markets, will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in concert with a pre-made restructuring agreement with its lenders that will keep all of its 108 properties open and operating. . . more

Gap permanently closes some stores in San Francisco, including flagship

CSA
Gap Inc. is shrinking the store portfolio of its namesake brand in its hometown.. . . more

Target profits soar 80%, comp-sales jump 24.3% in record-setting quarter

CSA
Target Corp. crushed all estimates for its second quarter as it posted skyrocketing profits and the strongest quarterly same-store sales growth in its history amid strong digital and store growth.. . . more

Trader Joe’s Tackles New Markets

Plain Vanilla Shell
When a community learns Trader Joe’s is coming to town, the excitement is palpable, with local headlines exclaiming, “Finally”and “It’s Official.” Often the fervor begins even before the deal is inked.. . . more

Whole Foods Embarks on Expansion in Multiple Markets

Plain Vanilla Shell
Some major R-E-S-P-E-C-T is in order as organic and natural retail behemoth Whole Foods Market is rolling out multiple new stores in competitive markets across the country.. . . more

Fossil reports 'triple-digit' e-commerce growth

Retail Dive
For Fossil, digital sales through its e-commerce site and third-party sellers like Amazon and Tmall shifted from 13% of the company's sales mix in the second quarter of last year to almost half this year, the company noted in a recent quarterly earnings call.. . . more

J. Jill, Destination XL added to S&P's most vulnerable retailers list

Retail Dive
S&P Global Market Intelligence added J. Jill and Destination XL to its list of most vulnerable publicly traded retailers.. . . more

Kohl’s Q2 profit plunges but beat estimates; planning ‘conservatively’

CSA
Kohl’s Corp. reported better-than-expected second-quarter results but offered a sobering assessment of the months ahead.. . . more

Revitalized Payless to open 300 to 500 stores during next five years

CSA
Payless is back in business in North America — with a modified name and big store expansion plans.. . . more

Payless making comeback online and off; plans 35 to 40 stores by 2021 yearend

CSA
Payless ShoeSource is readying its return to the U.S. retail scene.. . . more

Stage Stores to liquidate

CSA
Stage Stores has run out of time.. . . more

Circle K AI Pilot ‘Should be a Wake-Up Call’ for Convenience Retailers

C-Store Decisions
Alimentation Couche-Tard recently announced that it’s piloting touchless, autonomous checkout at Circle K via Standard Cognition technology, starting in the Phoenix, Ariz., area, with more stores to follow.. . . more

When the mall owns the retailer

Retail Dive
Bankruptcy court has emerged as a shopping mecca of sorts for Sparc Group, which, after successfully bidding on a series of retailers in Chapter 11, is now the "operating partner" for Aeropostale, Forever 21, Lucky Brand and Brooks Brothers, and is a rumored suitor of J.C. Penney. The venture says it supports "over $2.7 billion in global retail sales annually.". . . more

Giant fast-food franchisee closing up to 300 Pizza Hut locations

CSA
Three hundred Pizza Huts are going dark and 927 other locations are going on the selling block.. . . more

Zappos reportedly to open store in New York City

CSA
Zappos is setting up shop in the Big Apple.. . . more

Modell’s Sporting Goods’ assets acquired; to live online

CSA
A company that is making a name for itself by buying up the intellectual assets of bankrupt retail brands has struck again.. . . more

Sur La Table sells for nearly $90M in bankruptcy

Retail Dive

A joint venture by Marquee Brands and CSC Generation bought Sur La Table out of bankruptcy this week for $88.9 million, according to court documents.. . . more

Can Neiman Marcus finally leave its baggage behind after bankruptcy?

Retail Dive
The story of Neiman Marcus and MyTheresa follows broader storylines in the retail industry.. . . more

Panera bakes up new on-demand delivery option

CSA
Panera Bread is introducing a new contactless delivery service in partnership with Postmates.. . . more

AMC to re-open 100 theaters with 1920’s ticket prices of 15 cents

CSA
COVID-19 has been especially tough on the movie business. Sell-out crowds and social distancing don’t mix. Regal Cinemas and CMX both have filed for bankruptcy, and AMC was on the edge of filing for Chapter 11 protection.. . . more

Done Deal: Simon – Authentic Brands buy another retail brand

CSA
The retail portfolio of the joint venture between Simon Property Group and brand management company Authentic Brands keeps expanding.. . . more

Domino’s on global hiring spree

CSA
Domino’s Pizza is embarking on a worldwide hiring initiative.. . more

Walmart joins other retailers in extending store hours

CSA
After reducing its store hours amid the pandemic, Walmart will join other retailers who are starting to keep their stores open later.. . . more

FAT Brands announces plan to acquire Johnny Rockets for $25 million

Nation's Restaurant News
FAT Brands — global franchising company and owner of Fatburger, Hurricane Grill & Wings and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses — announced its intention to acquire Los Angeles-based burger chain Johnny Rockets from private equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. for approximately $25 million. The deal, which is expected to go though in September will bring the total number of FAT Brands franchised and company-owned restaurants to 700 internationally, with annual sales of $700 million.. . . more

Is the Coronavirus Hurting Brand Loyalty?

Footwear News
Over the past few months, the coronavirus pandemic has not only changed shopping habits (think: spending on household goods over nonessential items), but also reshaped consumers’ perception of brands.. . . more

Office Depot, CompuCom to offer tech tools, hardware for small businesses

Retail Dive
Office Depot and CompuCom, both subsidiaries of the ODP Corporation, have teamed up to provide a suite of IT hardware and service offerings for small and mid-sized businesses to support their remote workplaces, the company announced on Monday. . . . more

Check out the first-ever Sour Patch Kids store

CSA
The Sour Patch Kids brand is celebrating its 35th anniversary with the opening of its first-ever permanent brick-and-mortar location. . . . more

PREIT executes $30 million term loan following poor Q2

CSA
A day after reporting a 36% decrease of $18.6 million in the second quarter, mall owner PREIT announced it has executed a secured term loan for up to $30 million to shore up its liquidity as the COVID-19 pandemic draws on.. . . more

Brooks Brothers to be acquired in $325 million deal that keeps some stores open

CSA
Simon Property Group has stepped in to help another bankrupt retailer.. . . more

Stein Mart files for bankruptcy with store closing plans

CSA
Stein Mart is the latest retail victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.. . . more

It's a terrible time to open a restaurant. Here's why some owners are pushing forward

CNN
Last summer, Adam Weisblatt signed a lease on a historic saloon in Pioneertown, California. Then the world changed.. . . more

Placer.ai: Macy’s, Penney, Dillard’s recoveries stall with pandemic resurgence

CSA
Recoveries in the department store sector have been stymied by a resurgence in COVID-19 cases leading to a reversal of the positive trends seen in May and June.. . . more

Jack in the Box contains data in the cloud

CSA
A fast-food hamburger retailer has migrated its on-premises data centers to Amazon’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure.. . . more

Saks Fifth Avenue lays off store operations employees

Retail Dive
Saks Fifth Avenue is laying off an unspecified number of store operations employees, as part of a strategy to streamline and evolve, a company spokesperson confirmed on Monday.. . . more

J. Crew going dark on Election Day to encourage employees to vote

CSA
J.Crew Group has joined Time to Vote, a non-partisan effort led by CEOs whose goal is to increase voter participation.. . . more

Simon’s Q2 net operating income was 42% lower than in 2019

CSA
Impacted by the mandated closing of seven properties in California in July, Simon Property Group saw its net operating income drop to $254 million in the second quarter—42% less than the $437 million it took in during Q2 2019. . . . more

Sur La Table to be acquired; some stores will stay open

CSA
Sur La Table has avoided liquidation.. . . more

Macys, JCPenney and Dillard’s Already Hit Hard By COVID-19 Resurgence

Footwear News
The slow but steady traffic acceleration that brick-and-mortar retailers were starting to enjoy amid state re-openings is starting to flounder under the weight of rising COVID-19 cases in certain parts of the country.. . . more

Casper expands physical presence through tie-up with Sam's Club

Retail Dive
Casper announced it has formed partnerships with four furniture and mattress retailers across North America, including Sam's Club.. . . more

J. Crew nixes store closures after $130M in landlord concessions

Retail Dive
J. Crew Group on Monday said that it's received concessions from landlords of its namesake and Madewell stores, including one-time waivers and rent deferrals, adding up to about $70 million in savings this year and about $60 million next year, "assuming sales are in line with projections.". . . more

Can summer BOPIS practices forecast holiday trends?

Retail Dive
With COVID-19 uncertainty and the holidays ahead, retailers must refine their buy online, pick up in-store operations.. . . more

Kroger tests contactless payment

CSA
The Kroger Co. is piloting a variety of near-field communication (NFC)-enabled payment solutions in its QFC stores.. . . more

Cumberland Farms debuts new in-store shop concept

CSA
Cumberland Farms has unveiled an in-store addition inspired by European cafes. . . . more

Why Foot Locker Shares Are Surging Double Digits Right Now

Footwear News
Shares of Foot Locker Inc. jumped as high as 23% in Monday premarket trading following the release of an unexpectedly upbeat forecast for its second-quarter profit and sales.. . . more

Retail profits won't rebound until 2022 at the earliest, Moody's says

Retail Dive
Moody's reduced its forecast for the retail industry as "performance takes a dive," according to an emailed report issued Thursday by the ratings agency.. . . more

German grocery giant continues US expansion

Plain Vanilla Shell
Europe’s biggest discount grocery has opened a New jersey location as part of is expansion across the north east.. . . more

Amazon reportedly eying former Sears, J.C. Penney stores as fulfillment centers

CSA

Amazon might be looking at giving a second life to some dark Sears and J.C. Penney stores.. . . more

J.Jill inches closer to bankruptcy as it extends forbearance — again

CSA
J.Jill received more breathing room on the day that its forbearance agreements were set to expire.. . . more

7-Eleven Pilots Fresh Baked Goods Program

CStore Decisions
7-Eleven is piloting a new fresh baked goods initiative where select stores in key markets will get new equipment that will allow them to produce an new line of baked goods in stores.. . . more

What JCPenney Is Doing Differently This Back-to-School Season

Footwear News
JCPenney’s back-to-school shopping season is going to look different this year.. . . more

Costco’s July sales rise 14.1%

CSA
Costco Wholesale Corp.’s robust e-commerce growth helped fuel strong comparable sales in July.. . . more

80% of national brand tenants paid their rents in July

CSA
While states use case counts to measure the tenure of the COVID-19 pandemic, landlords use rent checks--and they got lots more of them last month.. . . more

Yankee Candle ignites subscription program

CSA
The Yankee Candle Company smells an opportunity for predictable revenue.. . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods’ store expansion includes new outlet concept, pop-ups

CSA
Dick’s Sporting Goods is opening 11 new stores in August.. . . more

DoorDash Launches ‘DashMart’ Convenience Stores

CStore Decisions
DoorDash announced the launch of DashMart stores nationwide, which the company calls “a new type of convenience store,” owned, operated and curated by DoorDash.. . . more

Macy's enlists influencers for its 'Style Crew'

Retail Dive
Macy's is opening its Style Crew ambassador program up to beauty and fashion enthusiasts. The initiative, which the retailer launched in 2018, was previously only available to Macy's employees, according to a company statement emailed to Retail Dive. . . . more

Capri, Ralph Lauren quarterly results indicate widespread damage to apparel sales

Retail Dive
As apparel retailers buckle under intensified pressure brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, several that cater to middle-income and budget-minded consumers have turned to bankruptcy and other restructuring measures. But quarterly results from Ralph Lauren and Capri in recent days demonstrate that clothing companies selling to higher-income customers aren't immune to its fallout, either.. . . more

J.C. Penney lenders reportedly looking for higher bids

CSA
The bids that have come in for bankrupt J.C. Penney are reportedly lacking a bit.. . . more

Smoothie King continues store expansion amid pandemic

CSA
Smoothie King continues to grow its footprint. . . . more

Walmart lifts curtain on parking lot drive-in movie program

CSA
Walmart will begin showing drive-in movies in the parking lots of select stores on Friday, Aug. 14 – with several special features.. . . more

Frye Will Shutter All of Its Stores as it Moves to Digital

Footwear News
All of Frye’s stores are slated to shut down for good.. . . more

Express ‘encouraged’ by early Q2 results

CSA
Express provided an upbeat assessment of its second-quarter results to date. . . . more

Michaels adds new ways to earn rewards

CSA
The Michaels Companies Inc. is expanding its Michaels Rewards omnichannel loyalty program.. . . more

Walmart teases drive-in surprise

CSA
A mysterious Walmart tweet suggests some type of product release will accompany its drive-in movie events in August.. . . more

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Launches Simplified Menu

Restaurant News
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® today announced the launch of a new, simplified dinner menu, the latest way the brand is offering guests what they have come to expect from Cracker Barrel – generous portions of high-quality, homestyle food offered at an everyday value.. . . more

Lord & Taylor to permanently close 19 stores

Retail Dive

Lord & Taylor, whose parent company filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, released plans to permanently close 19 locations, including six in New York State, three in Connecticut, two each in Maryland and Massachusetts, and one each in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.. . . more

Bankrupt parent of New York & Company sells e-commerce businesses

CSA

New York & Company will continue to do business, if only online.. . . more

Sola Salon Studios Signs Eight Franchise Agreements To Open 22 New Locations Across The U.S.

Plain Vanilla Shell
Sola Salon Studios, the world's largest and fastest growing salon studios franchise, announced today the signing of multi-unit development agreements with eight franchise groups that will bring 22 new locations to key markets throughout the U.S. over the next several years, including Florida, New York, California, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska. This surge in franchise development is fueled by Sola's recent growth, where it opened 16 new locations in North America in June and July, and reflects the brand's simple, yet compelling franchise opportunity. . . more

Sour Patch Kids to open first-ever store

CSA
The Sour Patch Kids brand is celebrating its 35th anniversary with the opening of its first-ever brick-and-mortar location. . . . more

Grocery apps get smart during the pandemic

Retail Dive
Since March, the grocery industry has witnessed tens of millions of grocery app downloads, translating to well over 100% growth for major names like Instacart, Shipt and Walmart. The new demand calls for new features that will enrich the user experience and make grocery shopping quicker and more seamless than ever. . . . more

These Men’s Wearhouse Stores Are Closing for Good

Footwear News
As owner Tailored Brands moves forward with bankruptcy proceedings, Men’s Wearhouse is set to permanently shut down dozens of stores across the country.. . . more

Chico's declares bankruptcy in Canada

Retail Dive
Chico's FAS Canada on Thursday filed for bankruptcy with the Ontario, Canada, office of the Superintendent in Bankruptcy, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.. . . more

What the pandemic has done to Nordstrom's revamp

Retail Dive
Nordstrom began the year with high hopes.. . . more

Publix sales soar amid pandemic; stock price jumps

CSA
Publix’s sales in the first half of the year increased an estimated $2.5 billion due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.. . . more

Plunge in retail rents continue on Fifth Avenue and other luxury shopping sites

CSA
Average asking rents along 16 high-yield retail corridors in Manhattan were $688 per square foot during the quarter ending on June 30. This was the 11th consecutive quarter that recorded a fall in retail rent and marked the first time the figure has dropped below $700 since 2011.. . . more

With sales down 87%, Pret a Manger is pulling out of the Boston and Chicago markets

Plain Vanilla Shell

With sales down 87%, Pret a Manger is pulling out of the Boston and Chicago markets as it takes “immediate steps” to stabilize its faltering business, the chain said in a statement. . . . more

Lord & Taylor Is Bankrupt as Retail Rout Continues

Footwear News

Lord & Taylor is bankrupt. After months of speculation, the struggling department store chain as well as its parent company Le Tote today became the latest fashion players to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — in the U.S Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va. Bloomberg News first reported the move this evening.. . . more

CVS to offer Venmo, PayPal QR codes in stores

Retail Dive
CVS will now integrate PayPal and Venmo QR codes into its checkouts across its 8,200 stores nationwide, PayPal announced on Thursday. As part of PayPal's collaboration with payments tech company InComm, CVS customers can pay for their purchase without touching a touchpad or signing a receipt.. . . more

The Top 10 COMEBACK Retail Center Experiences: No. 7 Assembly Row

CSA
When we visited this town-within-a-town on the outskirts of Boston as part our New England Top Stops tour last fall, one of the most memorable images we took home was a pack of kids crowded around the life-sized giraffe replica outside of Legoland. Now that 15-ft.-tall plastic ruminant sports a big black mask with a sunflowers on it.. . . more

Walmart cuts corporate jobs as it focuses on omnichannel push

Retail Dive
As Walmart looks to build out its omnichannel capabilities and centralize merchandising, it is restructuring parts of its corporate workforce.. . . more

Wawa to build first drive-thru, pickup only store

CSA
Wawa is exploring new store formats.. . . more

7-Eleven to Acquire Speedway

Plain Vanilla Shell
Marathon Petroleum Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Speedway convenience-store chain to 7-Eleven Inc., a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd., for $21 billion in cash. The transaction, which includes a 15-year fuel supply agreement, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.. . . more

Columbia Delivers Earnings Beat Despite ‘Steepest’ Quarterly Decline in Sales

Footwear News
The coronavirus pandemic has made a significant dent in Columbia Sportswear Company’s balance sheet — but it still delivered an earnings beat.. . . more

Moncler to take control of its e-commerce operations

Retail Dive
Moncler on Monday announced it will manage its own e-commerce operations as part of a new digital strategy that aims to double its share of online business in the next three years. . . . more

Dunkin’ expects to close 800 U.S. stores

CSA
In the wake of declining Q2 sales, Dunkin’ Brands Group may close as many as 800 Dunkin’ stores by the end of 2020.. . . more

At Home anticipates record-setting Q2

CSA
At Home Group Inc. is feeling comfortable with preliminary second-quarter fiscal results.. . . more

California Pizza Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

CSA
A fast-casual dining chain is filing for voluntary Chapter 11 protection as part of a restructuring effort.. . . more

Study: Brick-and-mortar shopping makes a comeback

CSA
COVID-19 continues to have a major impact on consumer spending, but bright spots include physical stores and food delivery.. . . more

Report: Walmart eliminates jobs as part of reorganization

CSA
Walmart is reportedly cutting hundreds of corporate positions as it transforms into an omnichannel enterprise.. . . more

CVS expands telehealth service to two new states

CSA
The CVS Health MinuteClinic retail medical clinic is now providing video visits to consumers in Georgia and Massachusetts.. . . more

Bankrupt JCPenney Races Toward a Sale, Will Not Liquidate

Footwear News
Bankrupt J. C. Penney Company Inc. doesn’t plan to close up shop. . . . more

Walmart expands employee app rollout, adds safety features

CSA

Walmart and Sam’s Club employees can now “Ask Sam” for any job-related information, including COVID-19 and emergency assistance. . . more