Charlotte, N.C. — Take 5 Oil Change, a drive-thru quick lube franchise under the Driven Brands family, will open its 400th location in September. Last year, the brand celebrated its 300th-store milestone and has rapidly grown its footprint nationwide by opening 100 locations in only a year. Additionally, during the first half of 2019, Take 5 signed area development agreements to open 58 new franchised locations and also acquired Advance Kwik Lube, a 25-unit quick lube and automotive service chain in Texas. “2019 has proved to be the strongest year …
retailers
Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer experience management, employee experience and brand research partner to more than 500 brands, has established a new partnership with global beauty products retailer Sally Beauty. The specialty retailer chose SMG for the actionable insights delivered through its technology platform and industry-leading professional services. With more than 3,700 Sally Beauty stores and 1,300 stores in the Beauty Systems Group network, Sally Beauty services both retail consumers and salon professionals with up to 10,000 products. Seeking to better understand and act …
Plano, Texas — At Home Group Inc., The Home Décor Superstore, has opened its 200th store, in San Diego. This milestone comes after At Home’s recent expansion into California, where the home décor retailer currently operates two stores with the potential to grow to more than 80 stores. “We are thrilled to announce that we have expanded our footprint to 200 stores in 40 states. With our long term goal of opening more than 600 stores nationwide, we continue to be excited about the significant whitespace in front of us,” …
Houston — Charming Charlie, a women’s fashion and beauty chain based in Houston, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 11, 2019. It is the second time the retailer known for its colorful displays of jewelry, handbags, apparel and beauty products has filed for bankruptcy in less than 2 years. The company now plans to close all 261 of its remaining stores across 38 states. The retailer’s first filing was in December 2017, and the financial restructuring was completed the following April. However, the company continued to struggle following the …
San Francisco — Janet Hayes, president of the Williams Sonoma brand, is resigning from the company after 12 years of service on August 1, 2019. She will be succeeded by Ryan Ross, executive vice president of Emerging Brands with the company. “On behalf of the board and senior management team, I would like to thank Janet for her valuable contributions over her tenure at our company,” says Laura Alber, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s president and chief executive officer. “Her leadership of Williams Sonoma was instrumental to the brand’s success, significantly expanding its …
Chicago — On July 9, 2019, home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel opened The Table at Crate, a collaboration between Crate and Barrel and Cornerstone Restaurant Group, with James Beard-nominated Chef Bill Kim leading the kitchen. Opening within Crate and Barrel’s Oak Brook, Ill., store, The Table at Crate is Crate and Barrel’s first full-service restaurant and Cornerstone’s first venture into the retail space. The Table at Crate integrates the dining and retail experience across two levels of indoor and outdoor space, connecting people, creative food and timeless design, while …
New York City — Blink Fitness, a premium-quality, value-based fitness concept, has appointed franchising industry veteran Thomas Flaherty as president of franchising, a newly created position. In this role, Flaherty will oversee the entire franchise business, including directing the brand’s expansion across key markets in the United States and internationally. In his previous position as president and CEO of Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, Flaherty oversaw the Tide Dry Cleaners franchise and Mr. Clean Car Wash license. Flaherty helped to grow Tide Dry Cleaners …
Miami — Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. (HFF) has arranged $550 million in financing for the expansion of the iconic Bal Harbour Shops, a 463,114-square-foot, open-air, luxury shopping destination anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus along Miami Beach in Bal Harbour, Fla. The loan, borrowed by Whitman Family Development, is one of the largest construction loans ever to close in Miami. Loan proceeds will be used to retire an existing loan and expand Bal Harbour Shops by an additional 300,000 square feet, including a 57,414-square-foot space to be occupied …
Boca Raton, Fla. — Office Depot, Inc. is opening five new Workonomy™ Hub coworking spaces this week in the Houston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis and Orlando, Fla., markets. These new shared workspaces are integrated into existing Office Depot retail locations and offer a robust portfolio of professional products and services to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers, remote workers and startups achieve their goals in a flexible and modern environment. Each location provides customers with a place to work independently or connect and exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs in their community …
Chicago — Broome + Greene, a modern furniture, lighting and décor brand for the town & country home, has signed on as one of the anchor tenants at Montgomery Promenade, a 300,000-square-foot, mixed-use retail project in Montgomery, N.J., to be developed by Madison Marquette. Located opposite a planned Whole Foods, Broome + Greene will occupy a nearly 9,000 square foot storefront. Broome + Greene Montgomery Promenade will carry the company’s line of high-quality furniture, as well as lighting and modern décor. “Retail is not dead. Shoppers are looking for a hybrid …