Company news

Melville, N.Y. — A&G Real Estate Partners has negotiated lower costs on 9,550 retail leases in 2020, bringing the company’s success rate to 77 percent. The company reports its success rate for negotiations on behalf of retail tenants is typically 50 percent. The majority of the talks have taken place since March 1, according to the Melville-based advisory firm. Since that time, A&G has secured terminations on 950 leases. The company has achieved nearly $1.7 billion in occupancy cost reductions for 51 retailers, restaurants, educational users, office tenants and fitness and …

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Pittsburgh — Dick’s Sporting Goods reported a 23.2 percent increase in same-store sales for its fiscal third quarter that ended Oct. 31, the company’s best performance in that metric since going public nearly two decades ago. In addition, the Pittsburgh-based retailer saw its e-commerce sales rise by 95 percent relative to the third quarter of 2019, ending the period with roughly $1.1 billion in cash. Net income for the third quarter stood at approximately $177 million, a healthy 67 percent increase from the $57.5 million in net income reported in …

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Richfield, Minn. — Best Buy Co. Inc. reported that its comparable-store sales grew 23 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period a year ago, a figure CEO Corie Barry called “remarkable.” The Richfield-based retailer’s third quarter ended Oct. 31. Barry cited the company’s supply chain expertise, flexible store operating model and ability to shift quickly to digital for the growth in sales. Best Buy’s domestic online sales grew 174 percent in the third quarter. Barry also explained that there is an elevated demand for products that help …

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Athens, Ga. and New York City — Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division has agreed to purchase a “significant stake” in Athens-based Zaxby’s, with plans to grow the quick-service restaurant chain’s footprint into new markets. Terms of the financing were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close by the end of 2020. Zaxby’s, known for its chicken fingers, wings and signature sauces, has more than 900 locations in 17 states, primarily in the Southeast. Zaxby’s is a privately held company that childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley founded …

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Minneapolis — Citing its multiple shopping channels and merchandising mix, Target Corp. reported Wednesday that its third-quarter comparable sales grew 20.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Digital comparable sales soared 155 percent, accounting for 10.9 percentage points of Target’s comparable sales growth. Same-day services such as order pickup grew 217 percent. “Our strong results in 2020 reflect the benefits of our multi-year effort to build a durable and flexible model, with a suite of fulfillment options,” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO, in a prepared statement. …

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Houston — Francesca’s Holdings Corp. will close 140 stores throughout the country by Jan. 30, 2021, the Houston-based women’s apparel and accessories retailer announced on Monday. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 140 shuttered stores represent about 20 percent of the company’s total store count. Francesca’s also said that if the company is unable to raise sufficient capital to continue funding operations and paying obligations, it will likely seek to restructure its debt load by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Francesca’s stock price opened at $3.53 per share Tuesday, Nov. …

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Atlanta — The Home Depot has reported that its third-quarter sales reached $33.5 billion, a 23.2 percent increase over third-quarter sales for 2019. Net earnings for the third quarter were $3.4 billion, or $3.18 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.8 billion, or $2.53 per diluted share, in the same fiscal period of 2019. The Atlanta-based retailer’s third quarter ended on Oct. 31. Chairman and CEO Craig Menear cited demand for home improvement projects in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as a steady driver for increased sales. …

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Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart has reported that its third-quarter e-commerce sales grew 79 percent from the same period a year ago. Comparable sales, defined as those from stores that operated during the entire 12-month fiscal year, went up 6.4 percent. The Bentonville-based retailer’s revenue during its fiscal third quarter reached $134.7 billion, a 5.2 percent increase over the same time period a year ago. Walmart’s third quarter ended on Oct. 31.

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Indianapolis and Bloomfield, Mich. — Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers Inc. have modified their merger agreement to include a new purchase price of $43 per share, enabling Simon to proceed with its acquisition of an 80 percent interest in Taubman. CNBC reports that the decline in the agreed-upon share price from $52.50 per share effectively reduces the price tag of the deal by $800 million. This announcement comes just as the two regional mall REITs were set to square off in Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial District of Oakland …

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Minneapolis — Target Corp. has reopened two stores in Minneapolis and in Atlanta’s Buckhead district that were destroyed in the spring due to civil unrest from the George Floyd tragedy in Minneapolis. The stores were completely rebuilt in five months, which the Minneapolis-based retailer says is the fastest the company has ever rebuilt locations. The Lake Street location in Minneapolis features an additional entrance, larger food and beverage section and a more accessible pharmacy. Locally based Noor Cos. was the general contractor for the project, which reopened Nov. 10. The …

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