Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp. plans to close 96 underperforming stores by February 2020, according to the retailer’s parent company, Transform Holdco LLC. The closings will consist of 51 Sears stores and 45 Kmart stores, leaving 182 operational Sears and Kmart stores remaining in the United States. The closing stores are scattered throughout all regions of the country, including 28 located in California. A full list of store closures can be found here. “Since purchasing substantially all the assets of Sears Holdings Corp. in February 2019, Transformco has …
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Atlanta — This is it! Southern Kitchen and BBQ, an Atlanta-based Southern home-style restaurant brand, has launched its franchising program and signed professional NBA player Paul Millsap as its first area developer for Greater Atlanta. The newly revamped Southern food brand has also appointed Tamala Fowler as its CEO and partnered with renowned BBQ restaurateur and Food Network star Pat Neely to assist in recipe development and new menu offerings. This Is It! was founded more than 35 years ago by the Anthony family, which has a rich, 80-year history …
San Francisco — Gap Inc.’s president and chief executive officer, Art Peck, will step down from his position and from the company’s board. Peck will leave Gap after a brief transition. Effective immediately, Robert J. Fisher, the company’s current non-executive chairman of the board, will also serve as president and CEO on an interim basis. Additionally, the board has appointed Bobby Martin, chair of its compensation and management development committee, as lead independent director. “On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Art for his many contributions to …
Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS Health plans to close 22 underperforming drugstores during the first quarter of 2020. The pharmacy chain is shifting its model to provide more healthcare services. In its third quarter results of 2019, the Rhode Island-based drugstore giant reported a 36.5% increase in revenue from $47.3 billion in 2018 to $64.8 this year. During 2018, CVS closed 46 underperforming stores and acquired health insurance and Medicare company Aetna for approximately $70 billion. The integrated companies moved forward with major asset redevelopments, including a “hub-and-spoke” model wherein smaller …
Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer, patient and employee experience management provider to more than 500 brands, has hired customer experience practitioner and thought leader Brian Dennis as senior vice president, retail customer engagement. He will collaborate with major retailers to change the way they do business, using customer feedback to deliver actionable insights across their enterprise. Dennis has more than 20 years of experience in customer feedback and retail management at Kohl’s Department Stores, Albertsons and SUPERVALU. As a best-selling author and keynote speaker …
Reading, Pa. — Ambius, the global leader in creating enhanced commercial spaces and North America’s largest interior landscape organization, has acquired Marshall Gardens of Lake Oswego, Ore., and Glenn’s Greenery of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. These acquisitions expand the Ambius presence in the Pacific Northwest and Florida markets to better serve a growing customer base, and further cement Ambius as the nationwide provider of interior landscapes. The deals were finalized in August and September, respectively; terms were not disclosed. Marshall Gardens was founded in 2009 by Abigail Marshall and Patrick Alexander. …
Denver — Slater’s 50/50, a full-service restaurant concept known for first creating the 50/50 burger patty made with 50% ground bacon and 50% ground beef, will soon make its Colorado debut. The restaurant will open at in Denver’s RiNo Arts District, located within The HUB, a mixed-use building featuring office, retail and restaurant tenants. Construction is slated to begin in the new year, with doors projected to open in late spring 2020. The Denver expansion will be led by local franchisee Charles Murray. Murray left his 30-year career in investments …
Atlanta — Psycho Bunny, the men’s contemporary and golf clothing brand, has opened its second stateside retail location at Lenox Square in Atlanta. The brand’s successful pop-up-to-permanent retail strategy was applied to the Atlanta market with the opening of an interactive pop-up in October, followed by a permanent space that opened on November 6, 2019. The 12×20 pop-up and 1,500-square-foot permanent store were designed and developed in partnership with international architecture and design firm, Adelifca. Launched in fall 2019, the pop-up showcases the brand’s fall collection, in a unique mobile …
Chicago — Jeffrey K. Hoffmann, a veteran banking executive who has provided strategic advice and capital solutions to operators of some of the biggest restaurant brands in North America, has joined A&G Real Estate Partners as a senior managing director and head of the firm’s fast-growing restaurant division. “Jeff is a trusted strategic partner with broad experience and extensive relationships in the restaurant business,” says Andy Graiser, co-president of Melville, N.Y.-based A&G. “He brings strong leadership to our deep bench of experts in this industry. We are very excited to …
FRCH NELSON Teams Up with American Girl to Design In-Store Experiences for the Holidays
by Katie Lee
Cincinnati — American Girl unveiled two new in-store experiences this month in its New York City flagship store on Rockefeller Plaza. Award-winning retail design firm FRCH NELSON partnered with the brand to envision both experiences that will be open throughout the holiday season. Girls can now experience a day in the life of one of American Girl’s most popular dolls, Julie. The pop-up called “Julie’s Groovy World” immerses guests in her 1970s world. The in-store activation encourages interactive play between girl and doll and brings Julie’s message of girl empowerment …