Hoagie restaurant chain to open 10 Capital Region stores

News10
PrimoHoagies, a gourmet Italian specialty sandwich chain, is expanding into New York and the Capital Region. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond in big Q2 loss as revenue falls 28%

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond’s struggles continued in its second quarter as the company’s loss widened significantly and sales fell. . . . more

Peloton to open branded shops inside Dick’s Sporting Goods

CSA
Peloton has entered into its first-ever brick-and-mortar partnership. . . . more

P.F. Chang’s adds subscription tier to loyalty program

Restaurant Dive
P.F. Chang’s is adding a subscription level to its loyalty program, offering customers benefits like free delivery, for $6.99 a month, the company announced Wednesday. . . . more

Aldi store in Brooklyn showcases chain’s value formula

Supermarket News
VP Scott Patton sheds more light on how savings are passed on to shoppers. . . . more

California Pizza Kitchen Enters New Food Segment for National Pizza Month

FSR
In October—designated as National Pizza Month—California Pizza Kitchen will do something it's never done in its nearly 40-year history. And it has nothing to do with the wildly popular Italian dish. . . . more

Survey: Black Friday, Cyber Monday lose luster with holiday shoppers

CSA
The timing of when consumers will do their holiday shopping is shifting from years past. . . . more

Academy Sports + Outdoors continues store expansion

CSA
Academy Sports + Outdoors has expanded its footprint in the Bluegrass State. . . . more

Macy’s enters marketplace competition with Amazon, Walmart, eBay

CSA
A new major player is competing in the third-party online marketplace. . . . more

Bertucci's in Woburn Has Closed

Boston Restaurant Talk
It looks like another location of a local chain of Italian restaurants has closed, and this is its second outlet north of Boston to shutter over the past few months. . . . more

Barnes & Noble will replace two former Boston-area Amazon Books stores

WCVB
Two Boston-area malls that were abandoned by Amazon earlier this year when the company decided to close all of its brick-and-mortar bookstores will soon become home to Barnes & Noble stores. . . . more

COVID Proves No Match for Smashburger's Development Dreams

QSR
Smashburger president Carl Bachmann isn’t the best person to ask how inflationary macroeconomic factors are impacting franchisees. . . . more

Macy’s and Toys ‘R’ Us set to open in-store shops; release toy guide

CSA
Macy’s Inc. and Toys “R” Us are officially launching their partnership in time for the holidays. . . . more

Kelly’s Roast Beef Sets Sights on New Hampshire Expansion

RestaurantNews.com
The Boston-based inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich, Kelly’s Roast Beef, is looking to continue expanding in the Northeastern United States with an emphasis on growth in New Hampshire. . . . more

QuikTrip Will Enter Chicago in 2023

CSNews
The convenience retailer is planning to open three stores in the metro area. . . . more

Ollie’s bargain-hunting shoppers push the Pa. retailer’s growth to 457 stores

PennLive
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet president and CEO John Swygert described the last two-and-a-half years as “a total rollercoaster ride.”. . . more

Costco’s top line grows by over $30 billion in fiscal 2022

Supermarket News
Costco Wholesale has followed up one strong fiscal year with another. . . . more

BJ’s opening first store in Indiana

CSA
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. is continuing its expansion beyond its Northeast U.S. roots into its 18th state of operation. . . . more

Whole Foods CEO wants to bring back ‘the theater of retail’

Grocery Dive
As Jason Buechel settles into his role as Whole Foods Market’s new chief executive, he is looking to chart the iconic specialty grocer’s future by paying close attention to its past. . . . more

Olive Garden sales fall short, but parent company Darden stands by outlook

CNBC Business
Darden Restaurants on Thursday reported mixed quarterly results but stood by its outlook for fiscal 2023, predicting that inflation will cool in coming quarters. . . . more

Walmart isn’t waiting for Black Friday. It’s ready for holiday shoppers now

CNN Business
Halloween is still a month away, but Walmart is ready for Christmas. . . . more

Multi-Unit Jersey Mike’s Subs Franchisees Adds Teriyaki Madness to Their Portfolio

RestaurantNews.com
Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style Teriyaki Shop, is officially bringing its exalted version of teriyaki to Connecticut following a recent signing with multi-unit Jersey Mike’s Subs franchise owners Ken Schanke and Audrey Poynton alongside their restaurant management group Team Meraki. . . . more

It Happens Here: Norwood's 200-year-old Winsmith Mill now a special shopping center

CBS Boston
Norwood may be best known for the Route 1 Automile, first made famous by Ernie Boch senior's catchy commercials. . . . more

Ralph Lauren’s ‘next great chapter’ includes 250 new stores

CSA
Ralph Lauren Corp. has unveiled its new strategic plan, which includes financial targets for the next three years. . . . more

Claire’s expands partnership with Walmart

CSA
Claire’s is expanding its partnership with the country’s biggest retailer. . . . more

Walgreens to pay $1.4 billion to buy rest of Shields Health; leadership shakeup

CSA
Walgreens Boots Alliance is upping its investment in the fast-growing specialty pharmacy business. . . . more

Investindustrial to buy majority stake in food chain Eataly

Reuters
European private equity firm Investindustrial will buy a majority stake in Eataly to accelerate the upmarket Italian food chain's global expansion, the two companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday. . . . more

Halloween spending to hit a record $10.6 billion; most popular costume is….

CSA
Consumers are pumped to celebrate Halloween this year. . . . more

Study: Market Basket, Aldi among top grocers for inflationary times

CSA
A nationwide study of the $1 trillion U.S. grocery market reveals which grocers are winning customers as the economy falters. . . . more

Nordstrom adopts one-year ‘poison pill’

CSA
Nordstrom has gone on the offense. . . . more

FunCity Adventure Park to Open at River Pointe Shopping Center in Algonquin, Illinois

REBusiness Online
FunCity Adventure Park has signed a 35,549-square-foot retail lease to open at River Pointe in the northwest Chicago suburb of Algonquin. . . . more

AutoZone’s Q4 income, sales top estimates; store growth continues

CSA
AutoZone closed the books on a strong year, driven by increased momentum in its commercial business. . . . more

JCPenney to roll out beauty shops chainwide

CSA
JCPenney is taking its new expanded beauty concept nationwide. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods opening more Public Lands’ stores

CSA
Dicks’s Sporting Goods is more than doubling its Public Lands’ store portfolio. . . . more

Lids opens its largest store yet

CSA
Lids has gone big in Las Vegas. . . . more

TGI Fridays signs big development deal

CSA
TGI Fridays has entered into what it described as “the most significant development agreement” in its 50-years-plus history. . . . more

Build-A-Bear Workshop puts a different spin on its newest store

CSA
Build-A-Bear Workshop has gone pro. . . . more

How to Choose the Right Cloud Strategy for Your Restaurant

QSR
Scaling a business takes motivation and effort, but it also takes careful planning. . . . more

Wegmans ends self-checkout app after too much shoplifting

CNN Business
In 2019, Wegmans, the cult-favorite northeastern grocery chain, rolled out a new mobile app that allowed customers to scan, bag and pay for groceries while they shopped and then skip the checkout line altogether. . . . more

Kanye West tells Gap he’s ending partnership; will open his own stores

CSA
Kanye West’s two-year collaboration with Gap Inc. is apparently over. . . . more

3 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Massachusetts appear on closing list

CBS Boston
Three Bed Bath & Beyond locations in Massachusetts appear on a "store closings" list posted to the struggling retailer's website. . . . more

Why is Family Dollar hacking at its prices amid inflation?

Retail Dive
Last fall, Dollar Tree broke from decades of tradition with a new price point, the $1.25 tag, after a generation as a true dollar store. . . . more

Consumers buying more store brands amid rising prices

CSA
As consumers reduce purchasing amid higher prices, two categories remain largely unaffected. . . . more

Founder of Patagonia gives the company away

CSA
As outdoor apparel and gear company Patagonia kicks off its next 50 years, its founder and owner, Yvon Chouinard, and his family have made an unusual decision. . . . more

Mastercard: Retail sales heat up in August, look good for holidays

CSA
In-store and online U.S. retail sales climbed in August, and the holiday forecast is cheery despite inflation. . . . more

Kroger releases new budget private label line

CSA
America’s largest grocery retailer is revamping its private label branding strategy. . . . more

Burger King to pour $400M into advertising, restaurant remodels, app improvements over 2 years

Fox Business
Burger King is planning to invest more than $400 million over two years in advertising, restaurant enhancements and remodels and to support tech and digital improvements. . . . more

Target's ace CEO isn't leaving anytime soon

CNN Business
Target chief Brian Cornell — who led a major comeback at the retail chain — will stay on the job for three more years, the company announced Wednesday. . . . more

Popshelf Opens 8th Dallas-Area Store in 2022

Connect CRE
A fast-growing retail concept, Popshelf, has opened its eighth location in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, in the last 8 months alone. . . . more

Batteries Plus Sets the Mark for Franchise Expansion through Organic Growth

PR Newswire
Batteries Plus, the nation's largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and phone repair franchise, has enjoyed a tremendous degree of system-wide growth over the course of the past couple of years. . . . more

Retail is back: Empty space now below pre-Covid levels

The Real Deal
As the office market continues to struggle with vacancies, retail has bucked the trend. . . . more

JCPenney applies AI, AR to skincare

CSA
JCPenney is partnering with a digital branding company to offer artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) beauty experiences. . . . more

The Secrets to Noodles & Company’s Growth Momentum

RestaurantNews.com
Noodles & Company, the national fast-casual chain known for spreading Uncommon Goodness with its globally inspired noodle bowls, best-in-class service, and values-centric culture, has seen strong sales and unit growth in recent years. . . . more

Betsy Hamm, Duck Donuts CEO, on the keys to transitioning from emerging to mid-sized brand

NRN
In 2021, Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based Duck Donuts went through a transitionary phase: The company was bought by private equity firm NewSpring, founder Russ DiGilio retired, and former COO Betsy Hamm was named CEO of the company. . . . more

As it burns through cash, GameStop says it’s ready to start thinking about profits again

Retail Dive
GameStop’s net loss in the second quarter widened by more than 75% from a year ago to $108.7 million. Sales, at roughly $1.1 billion, fell slightly from last year. . . . more

Lowe’s expands same-day delivery nationwide

CSA
Lowe’s Companies Inc. is taking its partnership with a well-known online delivery platform beyond a pilot. . . . more

Bloomingdale’s marks milestone with virtual store

CSA
Bloomingdale’s is celebrating its 150th anniversary with some cutting-edge technology. . . . more

Survey: Consumers have high holiday shipping expectations

CSA
The desire for quick delivery is re-emerging among consumers as the holiday shopping season begins. . . . more

KeyPoint Negotiates 21,842 SF Lease for Ski Haus at Former Woburn AC Moore

The Real Reporter
KeyPoint Partners negotiated a 21,842 SF lease with Ski Haus at Main Street Shopping Center in Woburn, MA. Keypoint’s Vice President of Retail Brokerage, Don Mace negotiated the lease on behalf of the landlord. . . . more

Owners plan to demolish iconic music venue Middle East in Cambridge, build 6-story hotel

CBS Boston
When night falls in funky Central Square, the moon shines, and the music spills out of the famed Middle East. . . . more

A Vision of a Post-COVID Era Emerges for Restaurants

QSR
In the second quarter, Texas Roadhouse watched its comp sales bump close to 10 percent in April and May (8.7 and 9.6 percent, respectively) before softening to 5.2 percent in June. . . . more

Pet care remains buoyant as consumers cling to premium brands

Supermarket News
Momentum has stayed strong from the surge in pet adoption during the pandemic that boosted the category, said Shep Kroner, director of customer insight for UNFI Brands+, the private-label division of Providence, R.I.-based distributor United Natural Foods Inc. . . . more

Teriyaki Madness Closing Out Summer With 91 New Franchise Locations Sold Among 27 New Franchisees

RestaurantNews.com
Makin’ moves in 2022! Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style Teriyaki Shop franchise, is midway through the third quarter of the year and already achieved 91 new units sold among 27 new franchisees as it continues to provide its signature teriyaki bowls to a loyal and growing fanbase. . . . more

Fast Casual Breakfast Concept, Effin Egg, Opens First NYC Location

RestaurantNews.com
On September 8th, grab & go breakfast joint, Effin Egg, is opening their first-ever New York location (following others in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee). . . . more

6 Express Edit stores to open in the next 90 days

Retail Dive
Express will open six Express Edit stores in the next 90 days, according to CEO Tim Baxter. . . . more

Big Lots opens Disney pop-ups

CSA
Big Lots has entered into a limited-time partnership with The Walt Disney Company. . . . more

Meijer to launch new store concept

CSA
Meijer is expanding its brick-and-mortar footprint with its first new format since 2018. . . . more

Au Bon Pain Eyes Growth-Ready Future Under New Leadership

QSR
When Ericka Garza became president of Au Bon Pain last year, she knew what the first question from operators would be—what are you bringing to the table that’s unique? . . . more

Sales up sharply for chicken — in store and online

Supermarket News
Despite price hikes, greater consumer interest in a wider variety of proteins, and supply shortages resulting in store out-of-stocks, dollar sales for chicken are up sharply, with relatively small volume decreases. . . . more

Baja Fresh makes plant-based items permanent

Restaurant Dive
Baja Fresh has made its Impossible Meat Made From Plants items, which it initially launched last July, permanent additions to its menu nationwide, the company said Wednesday. . . . more

Retailers take expensive measures to clear inventory ahead of peak season

CSA
With consumer demand cooling, retailers have shifted from scrambling to secure supply to aggressively clearing excess inventory. . . . more

Amazon opens second cashierless grocery store in Chevy Chase

CSA
The newest Amazon Fresh high-tech grocery store features frictionless shopping. . . . more

American Eagle, Finish Line accept Cash App Pay online

CSA
A number of enterprise retailers are now taking a newly-available form of mobile e-commerce payment. . . . more

Starbucks names its next CEO

CSA
Starbucks has found its next chief executive — and he’s not a local guy. . . . more

Roche Bros. locks in prices for 70th anniversary

Supermarket News
Roche Bros. Supermarkets is marking its 70th anniversary by locking down prices on hundreds of items. . . . more

Blaze Pizza Expanding in Georgia and Headed to Maine

QSR
Blaze Pizza announced the signing of new multi-unit franchise agreements to broaden the brand’s presence across the South and Northeast. . . . more

Is a Golden Era of Fast Food Upon Us?

QSR
Don’t look now, but the big are getting bigger. Of the top 10 chains in the QSR 50 report, only two—McDonald’s and Subway—saw their unit count drop from 2020 to 2021, while the other eight added 1,116 units, or roughly the size of the entire 47-state Firehouse Subs enterprise. . . . more

Walmart-owned Sam’s Club raises annual membership fee for the first time in nine years

CNBC Business
Walmart-owned Sam’s Club said Wednesday it will raise its annual fees this fall, as the warehouse club’s membership hovers at a record high and inflation-pinched shoppers seek deals on bulk items. . . . more

What Walmart and Target’s performance told us about retail for the rest of 2022

Retail Dive
Few retailers have as wide and deep a view into the American consumer as Walmart and Target. . . . more

Pet Supplies Plus unifies commerce across channels

CSA
The largest independent pet retailer in North America is streamlining payments online and in-store for its franchised and corporate locations. . . . more

Chico’s reports record Q2 earnings per share; revenue up 18%

CSA
Chico’s reports record Q2 earnings per share; revenue up 18%. . . . more