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Princess Polly Plans New U.S. Store Openings

by Katie Lee

San Francisco — a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp., a portfolio of next-generation fashion brands, has fully executed leases for eight new Princess Polly stores across the U.S. and expects to announce additional locations throughout the year. New locations set to open in the second half of 2026 include Houston; Frisco, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; and Edina, Minn., with locations in Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Boca Raton, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C., opening in early 2027. Princess Polly has strategically grown its U.S. retail footprint in recent years, and this next wave of openings …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Shipley Donuts Names New COO, CDO and CFO

by Katie Lee

Houston — Shipley Donuts, the nation’s largest brand of fresh, handmade donuts and kolaches, has expanded its senior leadership team with the addition of a new chief operating officer, Matt Kafka; chief development officer, Todd Brin; and chief financial officer, John Feray. The three appointments follow the addition of its chief marketing officer, Bill Leibengood, who joined Shipley in late 2025. The expanded leadership team joins the brand as it celebrates its 90th anniversary this year and rapidly approaches the opening of its 400th location. Kafka brings nearly 30 years …

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construction and designNewsretailers

Ollie’s Marks Entry into 35th State with Grand Opening in Minnesota

by Katie Lee

Harrisburg, Pa. — Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc. celebrates entering its 35th state with the grand opening of its new store in Austin, Minn. The new store is located at 1209 18th Ave. NW, next to the Hy-Vee Grocery in the former ShopKo. “Our first Minnesota store represents an important milestone in our Midwest expansion. We could not be more excited to enter our 35th state and bring Good Stuff Cheap® to the people of Austin and beyond,” says Eric van der Valk, president and CEO of Ollie’s. “If you have …

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construction and designNewspeople

KAI Build Names Industry Veteran as President

by Katie Lee

St. Louis — KAI has appointed Paul Giacoletto as president of KAI Build. He will lead KAI Build’s strategic direction and operations, championing KAI’s mission to deliver excellence in every project while driving operational efficiency and expanding capabilities. “Paul brings a high level of creativity and a strong growth mindset, along with deep experience in preconstruction and development, expertise that is invaluable to owners working to close deals and move projects forward,” says Michael B. Kennedy, CEO of KAI. “His leadership style is defined by integrity, inclusiveness and a relentless …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Buffalo Wild Wings GO Opens in West Virginia

by Katie Lee

Hurricane, W.Va. — On March 4, Buffalo Wild Wings GO — a fast, order-ahead destination built around the brand’s wings, sauces and shareables — opened in Hurricane, W.Va. This opening marks an exciting expansion of the brand’s footprint in West Virginia. Designed for speed, Buffalo Wild Wings GO focuses on the menu items guests crave most — traditional and boneless wings, chicken dippers, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and wraps, cauliflower wings, fries, tater tots and desserts — all paired with 26 signature sauces and dry rubs. The Hurricane location features …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailerssoftware/technology

Target Plans to Open 30 New Stores in 2026 and Refresh Existing Stores

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Target Corporation has unveiled its multi-year strategy under CEO Michael Fiddelke to accelerate its return to growth. The strategy includes plans to open more than 30 new stores, refresh the store experience across the chain, and invest in store payroll and training to elevate the guest experience. “This new chapter of growth at Target is defined by clear choices and rooted in a deeper understanding of our unique lane in retail, the guests we serve and the areas where we’re distinctly positioned to win,” says Fiddelke. “This work …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Red Lobster Names CFO/EVP of Transformation & Chief Global Development Officer

by Katie Lee

Orlando, Fla. — Red Lobster has appointed Brad Hill as chief financial officer and executive vice president, transformation, and Kristen Briede as chief global development officer. Both executives will join the company’s executive leadership team and report to Red Lobster’s chief executive officer, Damola Adamolekun. “Red Lobster has made significant progress coming out of a challenging period, and we’re now shifting from stabilization to a disciplined, execution-led growth phase focused on optimizing the guest experience, driving operational excellence, accelerating real estate optimization and building a stronger platform for durable growth,” …

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construction and designNewsremodelsretailers

J. August to Reopen in Harvard Square

by Katie Lee

Cambridge, Mass. — J. August is reopening its beloved Harvard Square location, bringing fresh energy back to one of New England’s most iconic shopping destinations. Returning to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Mass., J. August is reopening with a refreshed look; a grand re-opening celebration is planned for late March. The iconic retailer has long been woven into the rhythm of Harvard life from first-year move-in weekends to commencement celebrations. Now, with a thoughtfully updated space that reflects the character and energy of the neighborhood, J. August begins …

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construction and designNewspeopleroofingvendors

Duro-Last® Appoints Vice President of Commercial Excellence

by Katie Lee

Saginaw, Mich. — Duro-Last, a member of the Amrize family of brands and a leading manufacturer of custom-fabricated single-ply roofing systems, has appointed Greg Hudson as vice president of commercial excellence, strengthening leadership across its commercial operations and reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainable growth. In this role, Hudson will lead commercial strategy and market initiatives across all Duro-Last brands: EXCEPTIONAL®Metals, Protect-All® Flooring, Plastatech® and TIP-TOP®Screw Manufacturing. Hudson brings more than 20 years of experience in the building design and construction industry, most recently serving in senior commercial leadership roles …

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Stravito Introduces Deep Research Agent to Accelerate AI-Driven Insights for Retail Teams

by Katie Lee

Stockholm — Stravito, the Insights Intelligence Platform trusted by global brands to turn existing research into growth-driving decisions, has unveiled an upgrade to its AI Assistant with Deep Research Agent. The Deep Research Agent upgrade will roll out to customers during first quarter 2026. While many solutions prioritize speed, they often deliver shallow outputs that can fall short when complex business challenges demand comprehensive analysis. Deep Research Agent addresses this, delivering answers with the sourcing, depth and rigor that leaders require before committing to a decision. With new agentic capabilities, …

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