Bethesda, Md. — The National Association of Electrical Contractors (NECA) has appointed T. David Long as chief executive officer. He will officially join the NECA staff on April 1, 2019. “After a national search, the executive committee unanimously selected David Long to serve as CEO,” says Larry Beltramo, chair of the NECA search committee and vice president at large. “David’s experience as an electrical contractor, his current service as NECA president and his unending dedication to advancing our industry make him the ideal leader for NECA at this important moment …
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Las Vegas — Retail technology company Radius8 Inc., a leader in localization, has expanded its role with Orvis, a leading sporting goods and outdoors retailer. Radius8’s technology tailors the online shopping experience in each market by surfacing products to consumers based on what is trending locally and available in their nearest stores. As retailers move to blended online and in-store “omni”-shopping experiences, localization has become table stakes to drive customer engagement and increase sales. As a result, major retailers are increasingly launching and highlighting their localization strategies. Orvis launched Radius8 …
San Francisco — After 44 years, fast-fashion retailer Charlotte Russe is going out of business and closing all of the company’s remaining 416 store locations. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Delaware approved an order naming SB360 Capital Partners as agent for the liquidation. Going Out of Business Sales start immediately in all stores across 44 states and Puerto Rico. Merchandise currently in the stores — plus additional product from the distribution center and product originally designated to support the e-commerce platform — will be sold at discounted prices. The …
Atlanta — Whole Foods Market will celebrate its 500th store on April 5, 2019 with the opening of Whole Foods Market Midtown, a 70,000-square-foot, four-story location situated at 22 W. 14th St. in Midtown Atlanta, about 1 mile north of downtown Atlanta. The newest location will be the 12th in Atlanta and the flagship store of the Southeast region. The Whole Foods Midtown location will offer four fast-casual eateries across the store’s four levels, as well as a rooftop bar. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the new store will include …
Chesapeake, Va. — Variety store chain Family Dollar will close 390 stores this year and make changes to the stores it is keeping open as the retailer seeks a turnaround. Dollar Tree Inc., which purchased Family Dollar in 2015 for nearly $9 billion in cash and stock, plans to revitalize the brand with store closures and a rebranding of some locations to Dollar Tree. In addition, some locations will be renovated to include $1 Dollar Tree merchandise sections. Family Dollar sells a variety of items for under $10 at rural …
Miami — FRONTIER Building has completed the new Chili’s Grill & Bar located at 555 Hubbard Ave. in the Berkshire Crossing Shopping Center in Pittsfield, Mass. The 5,000-square-foot casual dining restaurant is a first for Pittsfield and the surrounding Berkshire area. It is also one of Chili’s first locations to feature the latest interior prototype design, which focuses more attention on the bar. “We’re grateful to have been selected to build out this new restaurant design concept for Chili’s Grill & Bar,” says Andrew Goggin, director of construction at FRONTIER …
Arlington, Texas — Weitzman’s management division will soon begin the redevelopment of Fielder Plaza, a 157,575-square-foot retail center in Arlington, Texas. The project will include a remodeling of the interior of the 52,000-square-foot anchor space occupied by grocer Tom Thumb, as well as a complete remodeling of the property’s exterior elements. The center, which is home to other tenants such as CVS, Starbucks, Pet Supermarket, Mathnasium, Edible Arrangements and Batteries Plus, opened in 1978. The architect for the remodel is Hodges & Associates. — Taylor Williams
Dallas — Cauldron Ice Cream, the rapidly growing California-based scoop shop known for its made-to-order nitrogen ice cream, opened its first Texas location on March 2, 2019 in Dallas. “The quality, taste and unforgettable customer experience that Cauldron Ice Cream offers is unlike anything we have seen or experienced in Dallas,” says franchisee Sonya Ali. “As a foodie haven, Dallas is the perfect location for this first scoop shop. We’re excited to expand and bring our passion for unique, creative flavors to the rest of the Lone Star State.” The …
Merrimack, N.H. — Connection (PC Connection, Inc.), a leading IT solutions provider to various industries including retail, has named Thomas C. Baker as its new senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Effective March 1, 2019, Baker reports to Timothy McGrath, president and CEO. Prior to joining Connection, Baker served as corporate vice president and chief financial officer for the new markets and service group at Applied Materials, Inc. since 2013. He previously served as vice president of finance for Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates from 2006 to 2013, and …
San Francisco — Gap Inc. will close approximately 230 Gap specialty stores within the next 2 years, the San Francisco-based apparel chain announced in its fourth-quarter and 2018 fiscal year reports, released on February 28, 2019. Gap Inc. also revealed plans to spin off Old Navy, a brand it established in 1994, into a separate publicly traded entity, as well as to rebrand itself under a yet-to-be-determined name.