retailers

Birmingham, Ala. — On Oct. 21, leading furniture design retailer Ballard Designs opened its first Alabama location in downtown Birmingham’s historic Hardwick Building. “Our beautiful new store [is] a playground for home decorators,” says Karen Mooney, president of Ballard Designs. “Birmingham [now has] an exciting, go-to source for home decor as vibrant and colorful as the murals that help make downtown a magnet for art and design lovers.” Situated along the popular Rotary Trail, Ballard’s newest location occupies the renovated Hardwick Building’s street level with restaurants and other businesses filling …

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Mike Garcia Colt Car Strike quote from article

By the time you finish reading this article, somewhere in the United States, a car will have run over the curb of a busy road, crossed the sidewalk and crashed into a retail space. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that somebody is driving into a storefront right now,” says Jessica Suazo, regional service manager for Colt Facility Maintenance, based in Dallas. Suazo’s company specializes in systems of bollards that protect buildings from these collisions. Also, for buildings not properly protected from collisions, companies like Colt provide emergency services. …

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Seattle — Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op has announced its lineup of 2025 store openings, with a sneak peek into 2026. Stores will open in six communities next spring and summer, including the California cities of Carlsbad, Chico and Elk Grove as well as in Amherst, N.Y; Durango, Colo.; and Lynnwood, Wash. REI also intends to open in Prosper, Texas, in 2026, which will join a previously announced St. George, Utah, store. Additional stores for 2026 will be announced as leases are finalized. “Cities that will have new stores represent …

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Los Angeles — Lamps Plus, a leading home specialty lighting retailer, has hired Richard Hoalst as chief digital officer in a newly created role. Reporting to CEO Jason Goldberger, Hoalst will lead the transformation of the company’s digital commerce efforts across website, marketing, creative and marketplaces. He joins the company from Guitar Center. Hoalst joins the company with nearly 30 years of diverse leadership experience overseeing e-commerce, marketing and merchandising teams across iconic brands in a variety of industries. Most recently, he served as executive vice president – chief customer …

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Mattoon, Ill. — In mid-October, Rural King, a family-owned retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle, opened its newest store in Bainbridge, Ga. — marking its first in the Peach State. With a legacy spanning over six decades, Rural King has established itself as a cornerstone of the communities it serves. The new Bainbridge store location, located at 1615 E. Shotwell St., uses innovative features designed to enhance the shopping experience, including mobile and self-checkouts, while maintaining the personal touch that defines Rural King’s customer service. “Rural King is excited to …

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Chicago — Hardware retailer True Value Co. LLC has initiated voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Chicago-based retailer has also entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of its business operations to Do it Best Corp., another entity within the home improvement retail sector and former rival. According to Reuters, Do it Best will serve as the stalking horse bidder for True Value with an acquisition price set at $153 million in cash and the assumption of $45 million …

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Hartland, Wis. — Batteries Plus, the nation’s leading specialty battery franchise, continues its growth trajectory with significant progress in the third quarter. The company signed five new franchise owners, securing the development of 16 new locations in Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. In addition to new franchise agreements, Batteries Plus opened five new storefronts this quarter, with openings in North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and two in Florida. “Our continued success reflects the strength of our franchise opportunity and the trust entrepreneurs have in our brand,” says Joe Malmuth, chief …

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Asbury Park, N.J. — Solar Landscape, a leading commercial and community solar developer, has teamed up with Walmart, which plans to invest in 74 Solar Landscape community solar projects in Maryland and Illinois as part of a 3 million-square-foot clean energy portfolio. The commercial rooftop projects are currently under construction and expected to energize in 2024 and 2025. They will create nearly 43 megawatts (DC) of solar capacity for the surrounding communities — enough power to serve the equivalent of over 3,600 homes. Approximately half of the portfolio is designed …

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New York City — Primark, an international clothing retailer that offers quality fashion at value prices, has signed a lease for its first storefront in Manhattan. To be located in Herald Square in the revitalized Penn District, the new store will serve as a flagship location for Primark. Located directly across the street from Penn Station, the most highly trafficked train station in the country, the new store will be situated in a prime location to attract commuter foot traffic, enabling Primark to reach more shoppers in the region than …

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Tampa, Fla. — U-Haul is offering 30 days free self-storage and U-Box portable container use across Florida in preparation for Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm projected to hit the state later this week. Less than 2 weeks after Hurricane Helene brought damaging floodwaters and high winds to the Big Bend region and western Gulf Coast communities, Milton has rapidly intensified and is forecasted to pack life-threatening storm surge along Florida’s western Gulf Coast. All 14 U-Haul companies with operations in Florida have made their 172 centers available to offer …

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