Woonsocket, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has added 55 COVID-19 testing sites in North Carolina and 15 sites in South Carolina. The tests are accessible through appointments only. Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions. A CVS team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately …
retailers
Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has begun implementing its store optimization strategy by identifying the first 154 stores to close. Following entry of an order at the June 11, 2020, hearing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in Corpus Christi, Texas, store closing sales will begin at 154 locations. The company expects additional phases of store closing sales will begin in the coming weeks. Additionally, the company intends to reduce its store footprint and focus resources on its strongest stores and e-commerce …
Las Vegas — Online retailer Barbell Apparel, in conjunction with International Retail Group (IRG), is set to open its first brick-and-mortar store in Las Vegas on June 8. The new store will be in the heart of Downtown Summerlin, a large outdoor shopping center owned by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Barbell Apparel was founded by a team of life-long friends and athletes who started their story by launching their Athletic Fit Jeans on Kickstarter. “A store is the next step in our plans to grow the Barbell Apparel brand,” says …
Cincinnati — Pet Wants®, the Cincinnati-based high-quality pet food and supplies franchise, has hit a major milestone: reaching 100 franchise locations. The 100 franchise units — 25 retail stores and 75 mobile operations — all offer free delivery, making the company uniquely positioned to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Less than 20% of franchise brands reach the 100-location milestone and Pet Wants has been able to do it in just 5 years. That success was achieved not only because of the company’s great story and fantastic products, but also because …
Target, Other Retailers Temporarily Close Stores Across Nation in Response to Violent Protests
by Katie Lee
Minneapolis — Minnesota-based discount retailer Target has temporarily closed six stores in four states in response to protests that turned violent over the weekend. The looting and destruction of commercial property took place in the days following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died May 25 following an encounter with Minneapolis police during which an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. On Sunday, several other retailers, including CVS, Apple and Walmart also announced temporary closures or adjusted hours in major cities where rioting had …
Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc., an extreme-value retailer for tweens, teens and beyond, has reopened 75% of its 900+ store fleet. In addition to reopening over 700 stores since April 21, Five Below has opened 40 brand new stores so far in 2020 and continues to expect to open 100 to 120 new stores this year. “We are thrilled to be in a position to have reopened over 75% of our stores with strict health and safety protocols implemented, and to have resumed our new store program,” says Joel Anderson, …
Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney recently reopened 150 stores in 27 states, bringing the total to 304 reopened stores nationwide after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, five stores are currently offering contact-free curbside pickup only. The company plans to have almost 500 reopened by June 3. “We’ve now reopened a third of our stores and plan to have nearly 500 reopened by June 3. To do this, we’re operating differently and taking a strategic and consistent approach, keeping associate and customer safety as our top …
— By Aaron Birney and Lara Marrero — Returning to the store in a post-pandemic world. The retail landscape has changed dramatically in the last few weeks. Many brands went from welcoming a solid holiday season to shuttering their doors with lightning speed. Today, retailers are dealing with store closures, layoffs and the question we all have: How long will this pandemic last? Many are still recovering from the shock of the last [few months], with their focus split between safety of family and employees and the real …
Baltimore — Under Armour has laid out details for the phased reopening of its owned stores in North America. The company reopened its first U.S. stores to customers on May 15th and opened additional stores the week of May 18th. By May 29, Under Armour plans to welcome customers back to nearly 50% of its North America stores. In regular consultation with government and public health officials, the company will continue to reopen additional stores on a case-by-case basis. “We are excited to begin reopening our doors in North America. …
Dallas — Tuesday Morning Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Dallas-based retailer says the actions are in response to “the immense strain the COVID-19 pandemic and related store closures have put on the business.” Tuesday Morning is a discount home furnishings chain. The company opened its first store in 1974 and currently operates 687 stores in 39 states. The retailer expects to permanently close approximately 230 stores to focus on high-performing locations. The phased store closures will take place this summer. After closing all stores and furloughing …