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construction and design

construction and designNewsretailers

Robert Talbott Opens First Permanent Store on Madison Avenue

by Katie Lee

New York City — American luxury menswear house Robert Talbott celebrated the grand opening of its new store on Madison Avenue in New York City on Sept. 10. The store opening represents a significant milestone for the brand as it celebrates its 75th anniversary and embarks on a new era of strategic growth and creative revival. Founded in 1950 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., by Audrey and Robert Talbott as a fine neckwear atelier, the brand has since grown into a full-fledged luxury menswear label known for uncompromising craftsmanship, timeless design and …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Playa Bowls Refreshes Leadership Team; Continues West Coast Growth

by Katie Lee

Belmar, N.J. — Playa Bowls, a leading superfruit bowl brand with more than 340 locations, is fueling franchise expansion under a fresh executive leadership team following its 2024 acquisition by Sycamore Partners. Playa Bowls is poised to deepen its footprint from coast to coast. Since stepping into the CEO role earlier this year, John Cappasola has leveraged his 30 years of accomplished leadership in growing brands to drive Playa Bowls’ next chapter. Cappasola has served on the Playa Bowls board of directors since Sycamore’s acquisition and was previously CEO of …

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construction and designIndustry Voicessoftware/technologyvendors

Streamlining Retail Projects

by Katie Lee

— By Andrew Brister, AIA — How as-built consulting and technology drive faster, profitable store openings. Retailers managing large property portfolios face growing complexity — tight timelines, overlapping projects and pressure to hit grand opening dates. To stay ahead, many are embracing advanced as-built consulting powered by technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), laser scanning, mobile mapping and virtual tours. When integrated early in the pre-design and design phases, these tools help reduce uncertainty, align stakeholders and streamline execution. The result: faster, more efficient rollouts with fewer surprises. Managing Multiple …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Walmart to Open First Branded Stores in South Africa

by Katie Lee

Johannesburg — Walmart plans to open its first branded stores in South Africa later this year. With sites already in development, these new stores are set to open before the end of the year, with official opening dates to be announced in October. The company will share further details about store locations, hiring, and community initiatives in the coming months. “Walmart’s South African stores will offer a wide range of merchandise, including fresh groceries, household essentials, apparel and technology,” says Kath McLay, Walmart International president and CEO. “Walmart also will …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

TOGO’S Reaffirms Leadership of Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Campbell, Calif. — TOGO’S Sandwiches, a beloved West Coast sandwich chain, has reaffirmed Glenn Lunde as its chief executive officer. Lunde’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s position in the competitive fast-casual market, and he will continue driving the company’s growth and strategic direction. With Lunde at the helm, TOGO’S will advance several key priorities in the years ahead. These include enhancing loyalty programs, expanding digital and delivery capabilities and driving continued franchise growth. He will collaborate closely with the leadership team and franchise partners to ensure TOGO’S …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

QDOBA Inks 50-Unit Franchise Agreement; Aims to Double Footprint by 2032

by Katie Lee

San Diego — On the heels of a record-breaking year of growth and franchise development, QDOBA, America’s rapidly growing #2 restaurant brand in the Mexican fast-casual category, has signed one of the largest development deals in brand history. Barry Dubin of B Wild Investments, LLC has signed on to develop 50 new QDOBA restaurants across the states of Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. Initially, Dubin plans to focus on locations in Salt Lake City, St. George, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and areas surrounding Colorado Springs. Additionally, B Wild Investments …

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construction and designgreen building/LEEDgreen newsNewsretailers

IKEA to Open First New Zealand Store in December

by Katie Lee

Malmö, Sweden — Two years after breaking ground in Sylvia Park, Auckland, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has announced that it will open its first store in New Zealand on Dec. 4th, 2025. “The interest and anticipation for IKEA in New Zealand can be felt all the way to Sweden, and we are very humbled by it,” says Tolga Öncu, Ingka retail manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group). “Welcoming a new country to the IKEA family always brings special emotions, and we could not be more excited to …

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construction and designNewsretailers

MarineMax Opens Flagship Yacht Sales & Service Center in Florida

by Katie Lee

Oldsmar, Fla. — MarineMax, Inc., the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, marina operator and superyacht services company, has opened its flagship Yacht Sales and Service Center in Fort Myers, Fla. The 23-acre waterfront property is designed to elevate the customer experience and support Southwest Florida’s boating community. “Our new location in Fort Myers is designed to meet the increasing demand in one of Florida’s top yachting and boating markets,” says Brett McGill, CEO and president of MarineMax. “Covering over 30,000 square feet, the Yacht Sales & Service Center …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Ulta Beauty Advances International Growth Strategy with Debut in Mexico

by Katie Lee

Bolingbrook, Ill. & Mexico City — Ulta Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the U.S., is opening its first stores in Mexico, marking the brand’s brick-and-mortar international debut and a milestone in Ulta Beauty’s growth strategy. In partnership with Axo®, Ulta Beauty brings its unique retail experience to a new market. Ulta Beauty’s first store in Mexico opened on Aug. 21 at Antara Fashion Hall in Mexico City, followed by Galerías Metepec on Aug. 30, with further openings scheduled to debut across the region throughout the year. To commemorate this …

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construction and designgreen newsNewsretailerssupply chainvendorswaste management/recycling

IFCO Opens New Supply Chain Service Facility in Texas

by Katie Lee

Tampa, Fla. — IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions for fresh food, has opened its newest service center in Mesquite, Texas, near Dallas. A purpose-built facility in North America, the Dallas Service Center advances IFCO’s mission to create smarter, safer and more sustainable supply chains for fresh foods across the region. The opening comes at a pivotal time, as growing demand for reusable packaging solutions, increased fresh food shipments, and rising safety and sustainability standards made expanding IFCO’s service center footprint a strategic imperative. After extensive market analysis and site alignment, IFCO …

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