Dave & Buster’s pleased with special events momentum

NRN
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc. said its special-events business continued to recover toward pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter and that traffic was accompanied by “strong comparable walk-in sales growth,” executives said Tuesday. . . . more

Carvana opens ‘car vending machine’ in major U.S. metro area

CSA
Carvana’s latest automated vehicle pickup location is now operating in a suburb of one of America’s most important cities. . . . more

A&G puts more Party City leases on the auction block — here are the locations

CSA
More Party City store leases are going up for auction. . . . more

FunCity Adventure Park purchases former east Wichita Sports Authority building

KakeABC.com
A former east Wichita Sports Authority location is on the verge of a new chapter. . . . more

Sprouts to trash use of single-use plastic bags by end of year

Grocery Dive
Sprouts Farmers Market is looking to stop distributing single-use plastic bags to shoppers by the end of this year, per an emailed announcement Tuesday. The grocer said it has also stopped providing paper bags. . . . more

Natural Grocers rolls out personalized shopping in stores

Grocery Dive
Natural Grocers announced Wednesday it is now offering in-store, personalized shopping experiences with its nutritional health coaches at select locations. . . . more

Shake Shack powers up ‘Super Mario Bros.’ activation

Restaurant Dive
Shake Shack is teaming up with “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” for a restaurant experience and wider national promotion, per details shared with Marketing Dive. . . . more

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

How Restaurants Can Use Location Data to Boost Efficiency

QSR
As record layoffs hit corporate giants, fears of a global recession are surging. . . . more

Best Buy makes big healthcare move with ‘hospital at home’ partnership

CSA
Best Buy Co. Inc. is doubling down on its bet that the at-home healthcare market is poised for growth. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods smashes same-store sales expectations for holiday quarter

CNBC Business
Dick’s Sporting Goods on Tuesday reported holiday-quarter results that beat Wall Street’s expectations, citing a sales boost from the gift-giving season even with inflation-weary consumers. . . . more

Bonchon to double US presence within 5 years

Restaurant Dive
When Jinduk Seo founded the business that would become Bonchon in 2002, it started as a sauce company in Busan, South Korea. He was selling sauce on baked chicken outside of a university and people loved it. . . . more

Will the Fast-Food Dining Room Live On After COVID?

QSR
In 2015, a time that now feels like a digital Stone Age for restaurants, CAVA CEO Brett Schulman recognized a potential hazard. Mobile devices and digital ordering systems were turning food procurement into an Amazon-esque experience. . . . more

Amazon to close 8 of its Go stores

Retail Dive
Amazon is permanently closing eight Go convenience stores — two in Seattle, two in New York City and four in San Francisco — on April 1, a spokesperson from the company said in an email. . . . more

Burlington Stores, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

Einpresswire.com
Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE: BURL), a nationally recognized off-price retailer of high-quality, branded apparel, footwear, accessories, and merchandise for the home at everyday low prices, today announced its results for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2023. . . . more

Ross Stores to open 100 new stores in 2023

CSA
Ross Stores continues to grow both its store banners. . . . more

Dave's Hot Chicken Inks Deal to Open Four Locations in Hartford, Connecticut

QSR
Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based street food sensation turned breakthrough fast-casual brand, announced it has inked a franchise agreement with John Coughlin and his family to open four locations in Hartford, Connecticut over the next two years. . . . more

Dollar Tree zeroes in on grocery

Grocery Dive
Dollar Tree is planning to add “hundreds of national brand equivalents” to its consumables private label portfolio in the back half of the year, Rick Dreiling, the discounter’s chairman and CEO, told investors during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Wednesday. . . . more

Best Buy to close as many as 30 stores this year

Retail Dive
Best Buy on Thursday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $14.7 billion, down nearly 10% year over year. Consumers still feel economic and inflationary pressures, which the company said contributed to a decrease in its domestic revenue to $13.5 billion, down nearly 10% year over year. . . . more

Abercrombie profit drops as sales rise; company ‘cautiously optimistic’

CSA
A strong performance by Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s namesake brand helped drive the chain’s fourth-quarter and full-year sales. . . . more

Kroger's upbeat profit view surprises Wall Street; shares jump 6%

Reuters
Kroger Co (KR.N) on Thursday forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates after reporting upbeat quarterly earnings as the U.S. grocer benefited from tighter cost control and higher food prices, sending its shares up about 6% in early trading. . . . more

Movie theaters aren’t dying — they’re evolving

CNBC Business
The movies are still big. It’s the multiplexes that are getting smaller. . . . more

Best Buy tops holiday-quarter expectations but warns of further sales declines in the coming year

CNBC Business
Best Buy on Thursday reported holiday-quarter earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street’s expectations, as waning demand for consumer electronics proved better than feared. . . . more

Target rolls out drive-up returns

CSA
Target is adding a significant new feature to its Drive Up curbside service. . . . more

Dollar Tree ramping up store growth as momentum continues

CSA
Dollar Tree reported earnings and sales that topped analysts’ estimates but offered full-year guidance that fell short. . . . more

Chicken Salad Chick targets 35 openings in 2023

Restaurant Dive
The company, which reported a 20% increase in systemwide sales to $306.8 million last year, continues to attract new franchisees. Chicken Salad Chick also reported positive comps within the last 24 of 28 quarters. . . . more

Primark signs lease to open at Queens Center in New York

CSA
Primark has claimed yet another prime spot in the New York metro area. . . . more

Kohl’s swings to Q4 loss, sales decline citing ‘inflationary environment’

CSA
Kohl’s Corp. reported a net loss and a sales decline in the holiday quarter and offered disappointing guidance for the year ahead. . . . more

Ocean State Job Lot owners buy Seekonk shopping plaza for $19M

BBJ
An entity registered to the owners of Ocean State Job Lot has paid $19 million for a shopping plaza in Seekonk where Bed, Bath & Beyond is closing one of its nine Massachusetts locations. . . . more

U.S. companies dominate upper ranks of world’s largest retailers

CSA
The three largest retailers in the world are based in the United States. . . . more

Papa Johns Keeps the Pedal on Innovation

QSR
Papa Johns CEO Rob Lynch poses a question: “Have you ever heard of a patent in the pizza industry before?” The brand is in the process of grabbing one for its Crispy Parm Pizza, which bakes cheese underneath the crust. Launched February, Lynch says guest response has been “fantastic.” . . . more

Rush Bowls to triple store count with 100-unit pipeline

Restaurant Dive
Prior to opening Rush Bowls, founder and CEO Andrew Pudalov had a lucrative finance career in New York City for over a decade. But all of that changed on 9/11. . . . more

Corner Bakery files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Restaurant Dive
Corner Bakery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. The cafe chain, which operates in 20 states, has assets and liabilities that both range between $10 million and $50 million. . . . more

Shrink takes a bite out of TJX margins, profits

Retail Dive
TJX on Wednesday said its Q4 net sales rose 5% year over year to $14.5 billion. U.S. net sales rose 6% to $11.4 billion, with largest division Marmaxx up 8% and HomeGoods down 4%. . . . more

Floor & Decor to open 32 to 35 locations in 2023; Q4 sales top $1 billion

CSA
Floor & Decor Holdings ended its fiscal year on a strong note, with increases across its top- and bottom-lines and its 14th consecutive year of comp sales increases. . . . more

Claire’s ramping up its presence in grocery stores

CSA
Claire’s Holdings continues to expand via partnerships with other retailers. . . . more

Big city restaurants and bars are missing office workers’ spending on Mondays and Fridays

CNBC
Many restaurants and hotels in city downtowns are seeing sales come back to pre-pandemic levels — but only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. . . . more

Panera adds annual membership, $0 delivery to drinks subscription

Restaurant Dive
Panera is adding an annual membership option to its Unlimited Sip Club subscription service and is expanding benefits to include a $0 delivery fee on digital orders, the company announced Wednesday. . . . more

Name change for Rent-A-Center parent company

CSA
Rent-A-Center, Inc. is changing its name to better reflect its capabilities and resources. . . . more

Placer.ai: These four retailers are ruling the roost

CSA
Discount and dollar (extreme-discount) stores won the hearts of many shoppers during the pandemic — and have since held onto them. . . . more

Bath & Body Works to open 90 off-mall stores; activist investor eyes chain

CSA
Bath & Body Works reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter sales and earnings  but issued weak guidance as it faces a board challenge from an activist investor. . . . more

QSR Names Kelly’s Roast Beef to the 2023 40/40 List

RestaurantNews.com
The Boston-based inventor of the North Shore roast beef sandwich, Kelly’s Roast Beef, is thrilled to announce that they have been recognized by notable food publication, QSR Magazine. . . . more

Luxury demand strong amid consumer weakness

Retail Dive
An obvious advantage for luxury brands is that their wealthier customer base can more easily shrug off inflation and other financial pressures. . . . more

2023 will be a ‘reset year’ for the footwear industry: NPD

Retail Dive
Signaling another shift in shoe tastes, a report from The NPD Group shared with Retail Dive predicts that footwear sales revenue will grow at an annual rate of 1% through 2025. The report also forecasts that consumers will seek shoes ideal for “casual everyday use” in the first half of 2023. . . . more

Walgreens selects ATM services provider for U.S.

CSA
Nearly all Walgreens stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia will now be served by the same ATM network. . . . more

Apparel Brands Expand Physical Footprints Amid Big-Box Struggles

Bisnow
Despite hundreds of store closures in the wake of teetering finances at Bed Bath & Beyond and several other chains, in-store shopping has regained its footing as consumers' most popular choice — and some apparel retailers are taking advantage by opening more physical locations. . . . more

Insomnia Cookies Dreams of 4,000 Stores Worldwide

QSR
The cookie segment is as busy as ever, and Insomnia Cookies refuses to be left behind. . . . more

Subway to Roll Out EV Charging Parks Nationwide

QSR
Subway announced Tuesday plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at certain locations, one of its biggest sustainability initiatives yet. . . . more

Party City plans to close 22 stores in bankruptcy

Retail Dive
As part of an effort to wind down underperforming stores, Party City is planning to close around 22 stores, with more possibly to come, according to court documents filed Thursday. New York-based A&G Real Estate Partners will auction off 12 of the locations, while another 10 are slated to close later in February, provided there are no objections. . . . more

Tuesday Morning files for bankruptcy — again

CSA
Tuesday Morning Corp. has filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than three years. . . . more

Canadian specialty retailer Showcase in rapid U.S. expansion

CSA
Showcase has marked a major milestone. . . . more

All Bed Bath & Beyond, Buybuy Baby stores to go dark in Canada

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond’s latest effort to turnaround its ailing business does not include its Canadian operations. . . . more

Sur La Table plots expansion — here are upcoming store locations

CSA
Sur La Table is moving back into expansion mode nearly three years after it closed a good number of its stores. . . . more

Sprinkles Finds Room to Grow in Dessert Category

QSR
Year after year, Sprinkles has continuously put innovation at the top of its menu. Founders Candace and Charles Nelson were among the first to jump on the "cupcake craze" during the mid-2000s, opening the first Sprinkles bakery in Beverly Hills at the turn of 2005. . . . more

Chick-fil-A pilots first chicken-free sandwich

Restaurant Dive
he chain will review customer, operator and employee feedback after the test to see if/when it should be added to the menu nationally, Chick-fil-A said. . . . more

Taco John’s to Make its Triumphant Boston-Area Debut

RestaurantNews.com
The Olé The Day movement continues to sweep the nation as Taco John’s will soon be planting its flag in the New England area with a new location coming to Lawrence on Feb. 13 – its first in Massachusetts . . . more

Kroger, Albertsons discuss sale of 250-300 stores: report

Supermarket News
Kroger and Albertsons are discussing plans to divest between 250 and 300 stores to satisfy antitrust concerns around their proposed merger, according to a Reuters report. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond avoids bankruptcy; to shrink its store footprint in new plan

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond revealed its latest plan to improve its ailing business on the heels of  successfully completing a last-ditch attempt to avoid bankruptcy. . . . more

Why more grocers are putting electronic shelf labels in their stores

Grocery Dive
For Schnuck Markets’ corporate team, the decision to bring electronic shelf labels into stores stemmed from firsthand experience. . . . more

Canada Goose to double physical footprint over the next 5 years

Retail Dive
Investing heavily into its direct-to-consumer strategy, luxury apparel brand Canada Goose plans to more than double its existing brick-and-mortar presence over the next five years, according to a press release Tuesday. . . . more

First Look: New Balance debuts new store concept in Boston

CSA
New Balance has gone customer-centric in its hometown. . . . more

Dick’s Sporting Goods goes big on in-store resale events

CSA
Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering hundreds of in-store trade-in events during the first half of 2023. . . . more

CVS Health in $10.6 billion deal to buy primary care provider Oak Street Health

CSA
CVS Health Corp. continues its push into health care, making one of its biggest investments yet in direct patient care. . . . more

MAD Greens Prepares for Growth Push

QSR
MAD Greens is tossing itself into a new growth strategy with its eyes set to expand through franchising in new markets across the nation. . . . more

Loyal Companion closing pet stores, filing for bankruptcy

CBS Boston
A pet shop with multiple locations in Massachusetts is closing its stores and filing for bankruptcy. . . . more

AMC Theatres to Change Movie Ticket Prices Based on Seat Location

Variety
At your next visit to AMC Theatres, getting a prime seat may cost you a little extra. . . . more

Cava files confidential IPO

Restaurant Dive
Cava has confidentially filed a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock, the company announced Monday. . . . more

Hot Dogs are Getting Hot Again for Restaurants

QSR
Hot dogs are a classic and nostalgic food that generations of Americans have enjoyed. Memories of celebrating the Fourth of July, for example, are often associated with grilling the food by the pool or out on the deck. . . . more

Limited-Time Menu Offers Can Still Bring Long-Term Success

QSR
The growth of technology and digital tools in the restaurant industry has resulted in a notable increase in accessibility and variety for consumers. . . . more

Franchise spotlight: How Shuckin’ Shack grew from a dive bar to a budding chain

Restaurant Dive
When Matt Piccinin and Sean Cook opened an oyster bar called Shuckin’ Shack in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, in 2007, the twenty-somethings weren’t looking to create a burgeoning chain. . . . more

Amazon putting breaks on Amazon Fresh expansion

CSA
Amazon is not opening any additional stores under the Amazon Fresh banner in the immediate future. . . . more

Simon Property Group’s Burlington Mall’s consistent growth exceeds expectations in 2022

NEREJ
Simon Property Group’s Burlington Mall, one of northwest suburban Boston’s premier shopping center, has opened 33 new stores in 2022 and looks forward to 2023 with four new store openings already planned for Q1. . . . more

Has Chipotle Raised its Prices Too Much?

QSR
Recent data suggests the pace of restaurant pricing has begun to calm. Limited-service menus rose 0.5 percent in December, while full service ticked up 0.1 percent. . . . more

Foxtrot to open new store in Washington, DC

Grocery Dive
Expanding its footprint in the city, upscale convenience store chain Foxtrot on Tuesday will open a new location in the Farragut Square area of Washington, D.C., according to a press release emailed to Retail Dive. . . . more

What grocers can learn from Whole Foods’ controversial exit from a Chicago neighborhood

Grocery Dive
Whole Foods Market was more than a grocery store for the community in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. . . . more

Subway’s North American same-store sales rise nearly 8%

Restaurant Dive
Subway’s same-store sales rose 7.8% in 2022 in its North American markets compared to 2021, the company said Thursday. . . . more

REI headquarters ‘restructuring’ involves layoffs

CSA
REI has made some organizational changes at its headquarters in Kent, Wash. . . . more

First Look: Whole Foods Market makes Montana store debut

CSA
Whole Foods Market has entered its 44th state of operation. . . . more

Smoothie King ramps up store expansion

CSA
Smoothie King is poised for nationwide expansion in both new and existing markets. . . . more

Walmart updates select flagships with new, stylish look

CSA
Walmart has introduced some store changes in select locations. . . . more

5 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Massachusetts set to close

CBS Boston
Struggling retailer Bed Bath & Beyond said this week it is closing 87 more stores, including five in Massachusetts. . . . more

Report: Amazon Fresh to charge Prime members for some grocery deliveries

CSA
Starting at the end of February, not all Amazon Fresh grocery orders will be delivered free of charge. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond to close its Harmon chain — and 87 more stores

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond continues to shrink its store footprint. . . . more

How Lego transformed after the pandemic

Retail Dive
Over nearly a century, Lego has built a deeply loyal fan base brick by brick. . . . more

Meijer opens smaller format grocery store concept

CSA
Meijer Grocery has made its debut. . . . more

Discounter Aldi Opened the Most Grocery Stores Last Year, But Not the Most Space

CoStar
Discounter Aldi led the industry in the most grocery store openings across the United States last year, but rivals H-E-B and Publix Super Markets bested the German chain in terms of the amount of new space occupied as part of the expansion of that type of property, according to a report by real estate firm JLL. . . . more

Ahold Delhaize USA pulls back the curtain on data

Grocery Dive
From conversational AI software for associates to wearable robotic “exosuits” for its distribution center workers, Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. business doesn’t shy away from embracing new technologies. . . . more

New Costco Design With Apartments Overhead Has Property Brokers Buzzing

CoStar
Costco, a retail chain known for cavernous buildings full of stacked goods, is working on a deal in Los Angeles that would put apartments full of potential customers on top of a planned store. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond sounds bankruptcy warning — again

CSA
Bed Bath & Beyond doesn’t have enough cash to pay down its debts. . . . more

New Norwood, Massachusetts grocery store is pick-up only

WCVB
A company billing itself as the East Coast's first drive-up grocer launched Thursday in Norwood. . . . more

Walmart-owned Sam’s Club plans to open about 30 new stores over next five years

CNBC Business
Walmart-owned Sam’s Club on Thursday said it will open more than 30 new stores in the U.S., marking its most aggressive expansion in years. . . . more

Yankee Candle owner announces layoffs, closure of Massachusetts office

CBS Boston
Layoffs hitting Yankee Candle will have an effect on Massachusetts. . . . more

Dave & Buster’s streamlines transactions with in-store kiosks

CSA
Customers at Dave & Buster’s will have an easier time ordering and paying for food and drink and loading gaming credit. . . . more

CoStar In Talks To Pay $3B For Murdoch's Online Real Estate Business

Bisnow
CoStar Group is reportedly in talks for a potential $3B transaction with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in CoStar's latest attempt to expand its residential platform through acquisitions. . . . more

Lego to move from Connecticut to Boston starting in 2025

ABC News
The Lego Group announced Tuesday that it will move its North American headquarters from Enfield, Connecticut, to Boston, Massachusetts, by the end of 2026. . . . more

The top 25 franchises in the U.S. are …

CSA
Not surprisingly, quick-serve restaurant chains dominate the upper tier of an annual listing of the country’s top 500 franchises. . . . more

Guitar Center Opens 300th Store with 15,000-Square-Foot Location in Naples, Florida

Shopping Center Business
Guitar Center has opened a 15,000-square-foot store at the Gateway Shoppes in Naples, marking the 300th location for the brand. . . . more

Trader Joe’s Eyes New Locations

Progressive Grocer
Trader Joe’s is adding to its presence in Connecticut, readying its ninth store in that state. . . . more

Workout Anytime Wraps 2022 With 15 New Locations and 49 Signed Agreements

ClubIndustry.com
Workout Anytime, the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week fitness concept with nearly 200 units open across the U.S., has seen strong growth in 2022. With 15 new gyms opened, deals for 49 more signed, system-wide revenue increases and new markets broken into, the concept is a high-performing player in the industry. . . . more

Chili’s closes off-premise test unit 2 months after opening

Restaurant Dive
Chili’s has closed its delivery/carryout location near Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the company confirmed in an email to Restaurant Dive Thursday. . . . more

Save A Lot to shutter two distribution centers

Supermarket News
Discount store chain Save A Lot will be closing two distribution centers and reducing staff at its St. Louis support center. . . . more

Batteries Plus touts record expansion in 2022 — with more to come

CSA
Batteries Plus saw record expansion in 2022, with both organic growth and existing franchisees. . . . more

N.J.-based Party City files for bankruptcy protection, stores remain open

NJ.com
New Jersey-based Party City filed has for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling with rising prices and a pullback in customer spending. . . . more

Whole Foods will now accept Zappos returns

Supermarket News
Whole Foods Market is expanding its role as a drop-off location for consumers looking to return purchases to its sister retailers. . . . more

Starbucks going national with new delivery partnership

CSA
Starbucks Coffee Company is building on a collaborative partnership with an on-demand delivery service. . . . more

Olympia Sports’ intellectual property headed to auction

Retail Dive
Olympia Sports’ intellectual property is up for sale after the Maine-based sporting goods retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, according to a news release shared with Retail Dive. . . . more

Target opened 23 stores in 2023 — here is strategy behind them and the locations

CSA
For Target Corp., it’s all about the community when opening a new store. . . . more

US Shopping Centers Saw Lowest Vacancy Rate in 15 Years in 2022

Commercial Observer
Shopping centers across the U.S. are seeing their lowest vacancy rate since 2007, largely because there is not enough new retail space in some parts of the country, according to a new fourth-quarter report from Cushman & Wakefield. . . . more

Dairy dominated in 2022

Supermarket News
Dairy staples like milk, yogurt, and cheese continued to dominate the dairy segment in 2022, though numbers aren’t at pre-pandemic levels yet. . . . more

New Lands’ End CEO wants to grow customer base, open stores

Retail Dive
When outgoing CEO Jerome Griffith joined Lands’ End in 2017, the brand had a big problem: “the database for our core customer was shrinking.” . . . more

Taco John's Announces Smaller Drive-Thru Prototype

QSR
Taco John’s International Inc., the iconic quick-serve Mexican franchise, announced it is going “Back to the Future” with the revival of its concept, the Drive Thru Olé. . . . more

Subway reportedly mulling $10B sale

Restaurant Dive
Subway has hired advisers to consider a sale that could value the sandwich chain at over $10 billion, The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday. Subway wrote in an email to Restaurant Dive that it doesn’t “comment on ownership structure and business plans.” . . . more

Burlington Selects Brovitz Community Planning & Design for Mall Road Rezoning Initiative

Boston Real Estate Times
Burlington is advancing the development of a new regulatory framework for the area’s largest commercial district. . . . more

Shake Shack expects to open up to 70 units in 2023

Restaurant Dive
Shake Shack expects to open 65 to 70 restaurants this year, Shake Shack CFO Katie Fogertey said Tuesday during the ICR Conference. Forty of those locations would be domestic units, and 25 to 30 will be licensed. . . . more

Five Below to open 200-plus stores, convert 400 locations to higher-price format

CSA
Five Below has laid out ambitious store plans for 2023. . . . more

U.S. convenience store count reverses four-year decline

CSA
The number of convenience stores in the United States inched up in 2022. . . . more

In-N-Out brings 'animal style' to Tennessee with plans to expand further in the U.S.

NPR
In-N-Out Burger is "double-doubling" down on growing its business, announcing it would open new locations in Tennessee, the farthest east the company has ever gone. . . . more

Babies R Us to open flagship store

Retail Dive
Babies R Us will open a flagship store at the American Dream Mall in Bergen County, New Jersey, this summer. . . . more

Is Froyo Ready for its Second Act?

QSR
Frozen yogurt shops are the millennial equivalent to the soda fountains that served as social hubs for teenage Baby Boomers. . . . more

Craft soft drinks have growing appeal at restaurants

NRN
By many accounts, alcohol consumption spiked at the onset of the pandemic. But now, as consumers are settling into a somewhat new way of life that includes a greater focus on health, they’re seeking beverages that are better for them, or at least free of alcohol. . . . more

Blaze Pizza Hires Ex-Focus Brands President Beto Guajardo as CEO

QSR
Blaze Pizza announced Wednesday that former Focus Brands executive Beto Guajardo was appointed as new CEO. . . . more

‘Sip and Stroll’ law takes effect at Arizona shopping centers

CSA
Arizona is out to make shopping an inebriating experience thanks to a new law that goes into effect next week. . . . more

Makeup brand Morphe closing all stores

CSA
A former high-flying brand that was once valued at some $2 billion is pivoting to e-commerce and wholesale. . . . more

Rite Aid CEO out

CSA
Rite Aid Corp. has appointed a board member as interim chief executive following the departure of Heyward Donigan. . . . more

Plum Market expands to Florida

Supermarket News
Natural and organic retailer Plum Market has opened its first Florida full-service grocery store as the company gradually expands its national presence. . . . more

Macy’s to shutter 4 full-line stores

Retail Dive
Macy’s on Thursday said by email that it will close four mall-based stores, in Los Angeles; Fort Collins, Colorado; Oahu, Hawaii; and Gaithersburg, Maryland. . . . more

The Next Wave of On-Demand Restaurant Delivery

QSR
The dust seems to have settled on the shiny new toy of the restaurant industry: the ghost kitchen. . . . more

Chipotle to encourage healthy living via augmented reality

CSA
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. intends to help customers follow their New Year’s health resolutions – using a popular augmented reality (AR) platform. . . . more

Simon comes to aid of mall shoppers whose phone die mid-trip

CSA
Malls are now coming to the aid of shoppers whose visits are cut short when their cell phones conk out. . . . more

Hand & Stone Massage And Facial Spa Grows Executive Leadership Team

Franchising.com
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, North America’s leading luxury massage and facial spa franchise has announced new additions to their executive leadership team which includes two new hires and two notable promotions. The brand has named Jennifer Durham as Chief Development Officer and Jeanine Linehan as General Counsel, in addition to advancing Lisa Rossman to Senior Vice President of Service and Product and Meghan Lally as Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations. As these seasoned women step into their new roles, they will be responsible for leading effective cross-functional teams that align with Hand & Stone’s strategic business goals, future franchise expansion, as well as brand growth. . . . more

Sprinkles launches into 2023 with new franchising program and products

NRN
While the softball-sized cupcakes craze hit its peak in the 2000s and has since dwindled, the Austin, Texas-based cupcake bakery Sprinkles is still going strong, and just opened its first franchised location in Dec. 2022 in Utah, with plans to grow from 23 bakeries and 50 iconic pink cupcake ATMS to more than 100 U.S. franchise locations and 100 international locations over the next three years. . . . more

Bed Bath & Beyond shares plummet after company warns of potential bankruptcy

CNBC Business
Bed Bath & Beyond warned Thursday it’s running out of cash and is considering bankruptcy. . . . more

Chicken Salad Chick continues to expand into new markets

CSA
Chicken Salad Chick remains on the fast track when it comes to expansion. . . . more

QSR’s Breakout Brand of 2022: The Sizzling Rise of Dave’s Hot Chicken

QSR
When Dave’s Hot Chicken COO and president Jim Bitticks joined the company, he admittedly knew little about the chain’s humble upbringing. . . . more

R.H. Foster Acquires 6 Leadbetter’s C-Stores in Maine

CSP
R.H. Foster Energy LLC has acquired six Leadbetter’s convenience stores in the Bangor, Maine, market, including three locations in Bangor, two in Holden, Maine, and one in Bucksport, Maine. . . . more

Luxury luggage brand Tumi to debut new concept store

CSA
Tumi will unveil a new retail concept this spring in New York City. . . . more

Mastercard Spending Pulse: Holiday sales grew 7.6%

CSA
Consumer spending held up during a holiday season that began back in October and saw plenty of deals and promotions, according to one early report. . . . more

What lies ahead for grocery?

Supermarket News
Kroger and Albertsons. Two names we’ve all had in our mouths for months now. . . . more

Why restaurant chains are investing in robots and what it means for workers

CNBC Business
Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing whether a robot can make tortilla chips in stores. Sweetgreen plans to automate salad making in at least two locations. . . . more

Woburn Strega Italiano Closes Permanently

Patch
Strega Italiano in Woburn has opted to permanently close, according to an announcement on the restaurant’s website as of Friday morning. . . . more

Sbarro opens over 100 restaurants worldwide in 2022 with major development plans ahead

PR Newswire
Sbarro is pleased to announce that with the opening of its two newest restaurants in the Philippines and in Missouri on Thursday, December 22nd, it has exceeded 100 new restaurant openings in 2022, the most in one year in their 65-year history. . . . more

Mace of KeyPoint Ptrs. negotiates 1,990 s/f lease to Jersey Mike’s

NEREJ
KeyPoint Partners negotiated a lease with Jersey Mike’s Subs for a 1,990 s/f space at Bourne Bridge Crossing. . . . more