Chain Store Age Executive Fax articles from May 2002

Chain Store Age Executive Fax archives from May 2002

New stores, new markets.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Lowe's is looking to open a store in Charlotte County, Fla., at Murdock Carrousel Mall. Cost Plus World Market opened in Buford, Ga., at The Marketplace at Mill Creek. Aldi is adding a store in Wichita, Kan. Barnes & Noble will...

Scooby Doo meets Saks as store seeks to "differentiate".(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... First came word that Saks was giving up space to Warner Bros. and the Cartoon Network in 31 department stores. Then, the Birmingham, Ala.-based department store retailer opened its arms--and more space--to Smith & Hawken, the upscale...

Home Depot expands part-time force.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... The Home Depot is becoming a part-time employer faster than expected. The change is viewed by at least one industry analyst as a meaningful and profitable transition. The home-improvement giant recently reported 65% of its work force are...

Kmart delays, might restate, filing.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Kmart needs more time to prepare its annual report and is looking at May 15 as the new target for filing. The chain operating under the protection of Chapter 11 bankruptcy has more bad news: The company expects its losses for the fiscal year...

Federated's Macy's West division. (People in the News).(Jeremiah J. Sullivan retires)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Jeremiah J. Sullivan retired from his post of chairman and CEO of Federated's Macy's West division effective today. Robert L. Mettler, who currently serves as president and COO of Macy's West, will take his place.

Robert Jaffe. (People in the News).(Hot Topic)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Hot Topic's Robert Jaffe, chairman, will leave the teen-focused retailer in June, according to a company regulatory filing. Jaffe has been chairman since 1992. No replacement has been named.

Paul Gannon. (People in the News).(Shaw's Supermarkets)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Shaw's Supermarkets, a subsidiary of Sainsbury, appointed Paul Gannon president and chief operating officer.

Mark Savary. (People in the News).(J. Crew Group)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Mark Savary resigned as CEO of apparel retailer J. Crew Group. He will also relinquish his seat on the company's board of directors.

George Gue Jr. (People in the News).(Winn-Dixie )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie appointed George Gue Jr. as Raleigh division manager. He was also elected VP.

Super bowl cited as sales booster.(for iParty)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... The New England Patriots helped lift sales at iParty Corp., but not enough to earn a profit for its fourth quarter. The 34-store multichannel chain posted a consolidated loss of $943,000 in the quarter ended March 30, compared to a loss of $1.7...

Young males: More commercially active.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Younger male consumers are shopping not only more often than older male consumers, but they are chopping at a wider variety of stores, according to a study released by New York City-based WSL Strategic Retail. The study, based on a survey of...

Abercrombie expands Hollister.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Abercrombie & Fitch Co. expanded its fledgling Hollister Co. concept with the grand opening of a new location at the Meridian Mall in Okemos, Mich. The opening of the Okemos location closely follows the opening of a Hollister store at the...

Mayor's halts expansion plans.(Mayor's Jewelers)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Mayor's Jewelers served as a lesson for regional players expanding too fast. The Sunrise, Fla.-based chain is closing 13 stores and selling off assets as it retrenches into its core markets of Florida and Georgia, where its brand awareness is...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2002... Carrefour denied rumors that it's contemplating an acquisition of U.K.-based Safeway. Rockaway, N.J.-based Party City Corp. completed its purchase of 13 stores from Minneapolis-based Paper Warehouse Inc. in the Seattle area. Party City,...

Boscov's will fill the space Montgomery Ward vacated at TownMall of Westminster. (New Stores, New Markets).(Westminster, Maryland)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Boscov's will fill the space Montgomery Ward vacated at TownMall of Westminster, Md. The two-level stare will open sometime next year.

Saks Fifth Avenue. (New Stores, New Markets).(Raleigh, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Saks Fifth Avenue will debut in North Carolina at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh. The two-level, 80,000-sq.-ft. store will open in fall 2004.

Build-A-Bear Workshop. (New Stores, New Markets).(Paramus, New Jersey)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Build-A-Bear Workshop opens today at Paramus (N.J.) Park.

Ross will open this September at Augusta. (New Stores, New Markets).(Georgia)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Ross will open this September at Augusta (Ga.) Square shopping center, near Augusta Mall.

Tractor Supply Co. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Tractor Supply Co. will open 56 stores in 10 states tomorrow. The move will boost its store base by 20% to more than 400 locations.

Wal-Mart. (New Stores, New Markets).(Gloucester, Virginia)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Wal-Mart will open its largest supercenter to date on May 15 in Gloucester, Va. The 220,000-sq.-ft. store will include a floral department, hair salon, vision center, game room, nail salon, pretzel shop and portrait studio.

Tracy's Appliances. (New Stores, New Markets).(Lima, Ohio)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Tracy's Appliance opened in lima, Ohio, this week.

Borders will open its fourth store in the Las Vegas. (New Stores, New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Borders will open its fourth store in the Las Vegas area this September in the planned community of Summerlin.

Bible Factory Outlet. (New Stores, New Markets).(Smithfield, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Bible Factory Outlet opened at Carolina Outlet Center in Smithfield, N.C.

Cost Plus World Market. (New Stores, New Markets).(opens units in Minnesota)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Cost Plus World Market opened this week in Bloomington, Woodbury and Minnetonka, Minn.

Publix Super Markets. (New Stores, New Markets).(will open unit in Tallahassee, Florida)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Publix Super Markets will open in fall 2003 at South Wood Village in Tallahassee, Fla.

99 Cents Only Stores. (New Stores, New Markets).(will open store in Phoenix)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... 99 Cents Only Stores opens next week in Phoenix on Bell Road.

April comps increase just 1.6%, shift in Easter hampers sales.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 10, 2002... The two-week shift in Easter boosted March sales results by roughly 2.5%, so it's fitting that April's numbers would be impacted by a similar figure, only negatively this time. Industry comparable-store sales rose 1.6% in April, according to...

American Eagle Outfitters. (People in the News).(hires George Sappenfield)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... American Eagle Outfitters named George Sappenfield executive VP of real estate, a new post.

Edens & Avant. (People in the News).(hires Numa Jerome)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Edens & Avant named Numa Jerome senior retail leasing representative for its mid-Atlantic office in Bethesda, Md.

Michaels Stores. (People in the News).(Bryan DeCordova will leave company)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Bryan DeCordova will step down as executive VP, CFO of Michaels Stores this fall.

Eric Sowder. (People in the News).(is hired by Lowe's Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Lowe's appointed Eric Sowder senior VP of logistics.

Safeway hired Steve Frisby as president of its Randalls division. (People in the News).(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Safeway hired Steve Frisby as president of its Randalls division. He recently was president of GroceryWorks, Safeway's on-line grocery shopping and home-delivery provider.

J. Jill Group. (People in the News).(names vice president of fulfillment operations)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... J. Jill Group hired Kathie Lynch as VP of fulfillment operations.

1-800-Flowers.com. (People in the News).(elects Mary Lou Quinlan)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Mary Lou Quinlan was elected to the board of 1-800-Flowers.com.

Kmart. (People in the News).(names vice president of corporate human resources)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Kmart appointed John Rocholl VP, corporate human resources.

The Sharper Image. (People in the News).(names executive vice president, chief financial officer)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... The Sharper Image promoted Jeffrey Forgan to executive VP, CFO.

Haverty Furniture. (People in the News).(announces Clarence Smith as president)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Haverty Furniture gave its COO Clarence Smith the added post of president. He will be named CEO on Dec. 31, when John Slater retires from that position.

Kmart to research Exec. payments.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Kmart is investigating the loans and payments it gave to departed officers. The company has reportedly suspended severance pay to several former executives, except for former chief executive Charles Conaway, who received $4 million. He left...

Winn-Dixie closing, selling 76 stores.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... To focus its efforts on its core markets, Winn-Dixie said this week that it will either sell or close 76 stores in two states. Two years ago, the grocer announced it was shuttering 114 underperforming stores for the same reason. The 76 stores...

May combining four divisions into two.(May Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... May Department Stores is consolidating four of its divisions into two. The retailer will combine its Filene's and Kaufmann's formats into one Northeast division and its Robinsons-May and Meier & Frank concepts in the Northwest and West. May...

Sans Buyer, Fingerhut will liquidate.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Fingerhut has ended talks of a sale and is now taking steps to liquidate its assets. The on-line marketer and catalog division of Federated Department Stores hopes to raise roughly $1.3 billion through the liquidation sales, less than the $1.7...

Ro-Jack's Food Stores. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(closes four stores)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Ro-Jack's Food Stores will close four stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by June 8.

The Home Depot. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to test new system)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... The Home Depot will test a system in which it will handle its own appliance deliveries instead of outsourcing the service. It will also open two buying offices in China in an effort to increase its global sourcing of products.

Gymboree will test a new retail format in the United States this fall titled Janie and Jack. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Gymboree will test a new retail format in the United States this fall titled Janie and Jack. The stores will offer apparel and gift accessories for children up to 3 years old.

Rite Aid. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(sells drugstore.com stake)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Rite Aid sold its stake in Drugstore.com.

Fleming. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(to close distribution centers)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... Fleming will dose distribution centers in Oklahoma City and Dallas.

7-Eleven has teamed with Cyphermint. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(Brief Article)
May 10, 2002... 7-Eleven has teamed with Cyphermint to bring an Internet cash-payment system to its Vcom kiosks, which currently operate in 98 stores.

New stores, new markets.(various locations throughout United States)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... Men's Wearhouse leased space at Deerbrook (Ill.) Mall. Aeropostale will open this July at Ridgmar, a lifestyle and shopping center in Fort Worth, Texas. Dillard's will be the primary anchor of a new shopping center in Monroe, Ohio, set...

Sears is acquiring Lands' End, Canadian division bags Martha.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... When Alan Lacy took over as head of Sears in October 2000, he said the retailer needed to jump start its apparel business. A year and a half later, it finally has. Sears said this week that it will acquire Lands' End for $1.9 billion. The...

FBI investigating Kmart after loans.(FBI reviewing $23 million in executive loans dispersed between October 2001 and its bankruptcy filing in January)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... The FBI is reviewing Kmart's documents as part of an investigation in possible criminal violations that occurred at the company while under the helm of Chuck Conaway. Under review are the $23 million in executive loans it dispersed between...

Gottschalks. (People in the News).(James Czech)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... Gottschalks elected James Czech to its board.

Jo-Ann. (People in the News).(Mary Hultgren; Eric Kovats; Cheryl Warobick)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... Jo-Ann named Mary Hultgren VP of central region, Eric Kovats VP of southeast region and Cheryl Warobick VP of midwest region.

OfficeMax. (People in the News).(Phillip DePaul; Joseph Reilman; John Voytilla; Rob Shovel; Michael Weisbarth)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... OfficeMax appointed Phillip DePaul senior VP, controller; Joseph Reilman VP of inventory management; John Voytilla VP of loss prevention; Rob Shovel senior VP of logistics; and Michael Weisbarth senior VP, treasurer.

Factory 2-U Stores. (People in the News).(Mary Kwan resigns)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... Mary Kwan has resigned as executive VP, chief merchandising officer of Factory 2-U Stores. Mike Searles, the company's CEO, will assume her duties until a successor is found.

J. Crew Group. (People in the News).(Kathy Boyer and Michael Scandiffio)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... J. Crew Group named Kathy Boyer as executive VP of men's business, effective June 3. Also, Michael Scandiffio was named executive VP of women's business.

Kmart. (People in the News).(Anne Marie Kehoe; Paul Hueber)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... Kmart appointed Anne Marie Kehoe VP, general merchandise manager of drug stores and Paul Hueber senior VP of operations administration.

Study: sales of crafts on the rise.(Jo-Ann and Michaels enjoy success)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... Despite what you may have heard, sales of arts and crafts merchandise were on the rise prior to the post-Sept. 11 "nesting" trend. Consumers spent $27.3 billion on arts and crafts last year, an increase of 19% from 2000, according to the Hobby...

Blockbuster will sell video games.(will remodel stores to fit dedicated gaming section)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... The video-game industry is booming, and Blockbuster wants a piece of the action. The company says it will remodel its stores this month and next to create a dedicated area for video games and game equipment. The mini-stores will be in roughly...

Albertson's to invest heavily in Dallas.(putting $184 million into new store and fuel-center construction and store remodelings)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... In the fight for Texas bragging rights, Albertson's lost a battle, but not the war. The supermarket chain will invest $184 million in the Dallas/Fort Worth market in the form of new store and fuel-center construction and store remodelings over...

Wal-Mart, Penney, Federated post gains.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 17, 2002... Wal-Mart's earnings rose 19.6% to $1.65 billion in the first quarter ended April 30. Comparable-store sales rose 8.1% for the company, with comps rising 8.6% at Wal-Mart stores and 5.7% at Sam's Club. Total company revenues rose 13.1% to $55...

This week's retail news nuggets.(Circuit City; Nordstrom; Wal-Mart; Fred's)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2002... Circuit City unveiled a co-branded Visa credit card. Nordstrom will take a one-time charge of roughly $70 million in the first quarter ended April 30 as a result of buying a minority interest in its Web site. Wal-Mart says it will open...

New stores, new markets.
May 24, 2002... Magnolia Hi-Fi opens three stores in the San Francisco area today. The 10,000-sq.-ft. stores are located in Palo Alto, Colma and Santa Rosa, Calif.... Borders will open next year in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd....

Drexler will retire as GAP CEO, poor performance not a factor.
May 24, 2002... Mickey Drexler dropped a bomb on Tuesday when he announced that he would retire as chief executive and president of Gap Inc. One day later, he held a conference call to assure investors that his departure was not a cause for concern or an...

Federated sells some Fingerhut assets.
May 24, 2002... Federated Department Stores will sell the Fingerhut name, Web site and existing inventory to Thomas Petters and Theodore Deikel. The two businessmen (Deikel is the former CEO of Fingerhut) signed a non binding letter of intent to acquire those...

Albertson's boosting California CAP EX.
May 24, 2002... Albertson's will spend $1 billion over the next three years on remodeling existing stores and building new ones in Southern California. Most of the capital will be used to implement the Alberton's/Sav-On combination format, which has had a...

The Home Depot named Jim Stoddart president of Home Depot Supply. (People in the News).
May 24, 2002... The Home Depot named Jim Stoddart president of Home Depot Supply. He formerly was Home Depot's VP of national accounts.

Food Lion. (People in the News).
May 24, 2002... Food Lion named Elwyn Murray senior VP of Northern operations, Cindy Schlaepfer senior VP of Southern operations and Darrell Johnson senior VP of human resources.

Kmart. (People in the News).(rehires James Mixon)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... James Mixon has rejoined Kmart as senior VP of logistics. He served with the chain in various executive posts from 1997 through 2000.

Real estate firms rumored to merge.(CB Richard Ellis Inc., Grubb and Ellis Co.)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Real estate developer and owner CB Richard Ellis is looking to acquire its competitor Grubb & Ellis, according to an article on the New York Post's Web site this week. Both companies have declined to comment on the speculation. Los...

Comps unchanged for the past week.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Retail comparable-store sales were unchanged for the week ending May 18, compared with the prior week. The news comes from a survey by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi/UBS Warburg. Sales of lawn-and-garden supplies were reported to be low as a...

Target keeping all of its banner names.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 24, 2002... Target has no plans to sell its Mervyn's and Marshall Field's department store divisions. That's the message chairman and chief executive Robert Ulrich gave this week at a shareholders' meeting after rumors broke that the company was looking...

Limited Inc. changes corporate name.(to Limited Brands)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Two months after Limited Inc. acquired the remaining 14% stake in its Intimate Brands division, the company has changed its corporate moniker to Limited Brands, effective immediately. Chairman and chief executive Leslie Wexner says the name...

New format for four Meijer stores.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... General merchandise retailer Meijer Inc. opened a quartet of stores this week in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio under a new format that creates a "village" atmosphere. The stores average 190,000 sq. ft. and feature a home decor department, pet...

Schnuck Markets. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(renames Seessel's units)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Schnuck Markets will change the name of the 12 Seessel's grocery stores it acquired in and around the Memphis, Tenn., area, to its own banner next month.

Kohl. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(will expand by 80 units in 2003)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Kohl's will open 80 stores in 2003, with 40 locations in the Southwest alone. It will open in Southern California this spring and in Phoenix and Las Vegas in the fall Roughly 70 stores are planned to open this year.

Claire's Stores. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(divests Mr. Rags chain)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Claire's Stores sold its 154-store Mr. Rags men's apparel chain to a private investment group for an undisclosed sum.

Walgreens. (This Week's Retail News Nuggets).(offers prescription labels in variety of languages)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2002... Walgreens has begun offering prescription labels in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Russian and Vietnamese.

Beall's, Publix, Ross, Pier 1 Imports, Michael's and Bed, Bath & Beyond are some of the tenants of Cobblestone Village. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... Beall's, Publix, Ross, Pier 1 Imports, Michael's and Bed, Bath & Beyond are some of the tenants of Cobblestone Village, set to open next spring in St. Augustine, Fla.

Marshalls. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... Marshalls will open by the end of the year at Lincoln (R.I.) Mall.

Victoria's Secret. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... Victoria's Secret opened its largest store to date at Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair in San Jose, Calif., last week.

Borders. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... This November, Borders will open at Governor's Square Mall in Clarksville, Term. In August, the chain will add a store in Rolling Hills, Calif., on the second floor of The Avenue of the Peninsula....

Basics Furniture. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... Basics Furniture leased space in Manhattan at 19th Street and 2nd Avenue, its second store in the city It will open in September.

99 Cents Only Stores. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... 99 Cents Only Stores will open on June 6 in Rancho Cordova, Calif, its first store in the Sacramento area.

Pep Boys. (New Stores New Markets).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2002... Pep Boys recently opened its 29th store in New Jersey, located in Watchung.