Lubbock, Texas — Cousins Maine Lobster (CML) has signed a new, multi-unit deal with franchisees Chris Wilson and Gary Andrews of Lubbock. Wilson and Andrews currently own and operate six Slim Chickens restaurants throughout metro Lubbock and have launched their first CML food truck in the area, serving the markets of Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Wichita and San Angelo. The grand opening was Oct. 26, at West End Shopping Center in Lubbock. “After six years of operating in Teas, we are thrilled to announce our expansion into West Texas,” says Angela Coppler, …
Melbourne and Sarasota, Fla. — Nordstrom Rack has announced plans to open two new stores in Florida. Located in Melbourne and Sarasota, the stores will comprise 24,000 and 27,000 square feet, respectively. The Melbourne store will be situated within The Avenue Viera and is scheduled to open next fall. Situated within Sarasota Pavilion, the Sarasota store is scheduled to open in spring 2026. InvenTrust Properties owns and manages Sarasota Pavilion, and WS Development owns and manages The Avenue Viera.
Toronto — Slate Grocery REIT, a Toronto-based owner and operator of grocery-anchored retail properties in the United States, has entered into a $500 million credit facility agreement. The refinancing comprises a $275 million revolving credit facility and a $225 million term loan facility with maturity scheduled for January 2028. The REIT is also in negotiations with lenders to refinance an additional $138 million of upcoming debt maturities. “In today’s financing environment, our ability to refinance half a billion dollars of debt at such favorable economic terms reflects the strength and quality …
Grand Rapids, Mich. — Michigan-based food solutions company SpartanNash has acquired Fresh Encounter Inc. (FEI), a 49-store supermarket chain with locations in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. This move expands SpartanNash’s retail footprint by 33 percent and marks the company’s second retail acquisition this year, following its purchase of Metcalfe’s Market in April. FEI stores operate under the banners Community Markets, Remke Markets, Chief Markets and Needler’s Fresh Market and have been a food distribution customer of SpartanNash for 58 years. The transaction is expected to close in late November, subject to …
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 in contracts and …
Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) unveiled in its fiscal year 2024 earnings report that it plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years, with roughly 500 of the closures scheduled for the 2025 fiscal year. “In fiscal 2025, we are focusing on stabilizing the retail pharmacy by optimizing our footprint, controlling operating costs, improving cash flow and continuing to address reimbursement models to support dispensing margins and preserve patient access for the future,” says Tim Wentworth, chief executive officer of Walgreens. “Fiscal 2025 will be …
Irving, Texas — Global convenience store operator 7-Eleven will close more than 400 of its North American stores, according to reports from multiple news outlets including NPR and CBS News. Both news outlets noted that the announcement to shutter some 440 stores throughout the United States and Canada was delivered on Thursday, Oct. 10, during a conference call held by Seven & I Holdings, the Japan-based parent company of 7-Eleven. The company’s U.S. operations are headquartered in Irving, Texas. CBS states that the locations to be shuttered represent roughly 3 percent of 7-Eleven’s total North American …
Egg Harbor Township, N.J. — Spirit Halloween has announced plans to test a new, Christmas-themed concept with the opening of 10 stores. Spirit Christmas stores will feature décor, apparel, inflatables, gifts and stocking stuffers, as well as interactive elements including a life-sized gingerbread village. Scheduled to open beginning in November, the 10 test stores will be located at shopping centers in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
New York City — Whole Foods Market has opened the first of its new small-format stores in New York City. Situated within the Upper East Side, the Whole Foods Market Daily Shop comprises 9,101 square feet. In addition to produce, meat, seafood and other groceries, the store features a Juice & Java venue, prepared foods and single-serve hot bowls and meals. Two additional small-format stores are scheduled to open within the city as well, in the East Village StuyTown development and Hell’s Kitchen.
Cucamonga and Gilroy, Calif. — Japanese retail chain Daiso has announced that it will open two new stores in California this month. Located in Cucamonga and Gilroy, the stores total 15,343 and 10,004 square feet, respectively. Daiso — which offers products including Japanese inspired home décor, stationery and food — first entered the U.S. market in 2005.