New York City — RCS Real Estate Advisors, a leading national retail real estate advisory firm specializing in store growth and portfolio optimization, counseled internationally recognized fragrance retailers Perfumania and The Fragrance Outlet on the opening of 43 new stores across prominent malls and outlet centers nationwide. These transactions build on the opening of 31 stores in 2025, reflecting sustained momentum across the portfolio’s long term growth initiative. The new locations are expected to open throughout 2026 and 2027. “Our work with Perfumania and The Fragrance Outlet continues to evolve …
retailers
BJ’s Wholesale Club Accelerates Growth with New Locations in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana
Marlborough, Mass. — BJ’s Wholesale Club is planning its next wave of new club growth with locations in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana set to open this fiscal year. The new clubs are part of the company’s ongoing strategy to open 25-30 new clubs every 2 years. The new clubs will be located in: • Frankfort, Ky. • Ocala, Fla. • Lecanto, Fla. • Port St. Lucie, Fla. • Portage, Ind. This expansion strengthens BJ’s presence in the Florida market up to 46 clubs and grows BJ’s footprint in the recently …
Los Angeles — OLIVE YOUNG, a leading beauty and lifestyle retailer from Korea, has officially opened OLIVE YOUNG Pasadena, its first brick-and-mortar store in the United States. The company also launched a U.S.-exclusive online store, expanding access to customers nationwide. Located at 58 W. Colorado Blvd., the 8,647-square-foot OLIVE YOUNG Pasadena marks a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion. Inspired by the fast-moving beauty culture and retail energy of Seoul, the store offers a highly curated assortment of trending K-beauty, wellness and globally popular brands across skincare, makeup, hair …
Irvine, Calif. — Xponential Fitness has signed a multi-unit franchise deal with Riser Fitness to develop 127 new Club Pilates studios over the next 5 years. Riser Fitness has also obtained the rights to develop all remaining, non-contracted studio locations in six states, including California, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Riser Fitness, a family-owned operator, maintains more than 110 studios across eight states with a growing international footprint. Most recently, the company debuted its first Club Pilates studio in Mexico City and will begin a 40-unit development plan alongside …
Greenville, S.C. — New York Butcher Shoppe, a neighborhood butcher and specialty market, is making strides in its franchise development goals for 2026. The news follows a recent announcement of a strategic investment partnership with The Foundry Group, which brings hands‑on operational expertise to strengthen the company’s foundation and support scalable, nationwide franchise growth. New York Butcher Shoppe currently operates 42 units across 10 states and is advancing toward its 50th location, set to open by the end of the year. The brand’s development pipeline is robust, with nine new …
— By Liz Snyder — How glass wall systems are emerging as a strategic investment for retailers. Today, the most successful retail stores aren’t designed solely for transactions; they are experiential and foster emotional connection. A well-designed store engages customers and attracts prospective shoppers, even when staff are busy. To do so, many retailers are incorporating hospitality-inspired elements, such as cafés, restaurants and communal gathering areas, into their layout design, transforming furniture and retail stores into lifestyle destinations. Floor plans that prioritize openness, natural light and seamless flow enhance the …
The Home Depot Foundation Invests $5.5 Million in Disaster Preparedness Ahead of Storm Season
Atlanta — As hurricane season approaches, The Home Depot Foundation is directly supporting efforts to help communities better prepare for, withstand and recover from natural disasters by investing more than $5.5 million in grants to nonprofit partners. These grants, along with mitigation training for those partners supporting rebuilding efforts, will aid communities through every stage of the disaster response cycle. Beyond philanthropy, The Home Depot activates its Disaster Response Command Center for significant disasters, providing continuous, daily communication between teams, impacted stores and suppliers. The Command Center organizes more than …
Tanger Releases 2025 Impact Report
Greensboro, N.C. — Tanger®, a leading owner and operator of outlet and other open-air retail shopping destinations, has released its 2025 Impact Report for the annual period ending December 31, 2025, marking a decade of reporting on the company’s sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives. Additionally, the Institute for Market Transformation has named Tanger a 2026 Green Lease Leader at the Silver level. Launched in 2014, Green Lease Leaders recognizes landlords, tenants and teams who modernize their leases to spur collaborative action on energy and water efficiency, shared cost-savings, air quality …
San Francisco — Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has promoted Jennifer Kellor to president of Pottery Barn. “Over the course of her 29-year tenure, Jen has demonstrated an exceptional track record of driving growth and incubating brands,” says laura Alber, president and CEO of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “Jen’s deep brand leadership, merchandising, design, e-commerce and marketing expertise has led the Pottery Barn children’s home furnishings businesses to over $1.1 billion in annual revenues.” Since joining the company as an assistant buyer for the Pottery Barn catalog, Kellor has played an instrumental role in the …
More Money, More Problems
— By Nellie Day — California buildouts get a power upgrade — and a new set of challenges. The two items development teams are always trying to manage — time and cost — are getting a whole lot harder to control due to California’s updated Title 24 Energy Code. This code, which is updated every 3 years, sets efficiency standards for building systems like HVAC, lighting and electrical infrastructure across the state. The latest version took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and requires all newly permitted projects to include higher-efficiency systems, …