Chicago — Macy’s will close its longtime department store at Water Tower Place in Chicago, according to several media reports. The downtown mall is situated on the Magnificent Mile. Macy’s will begin a clearance sale this month at the 170,000-square-foot store. The retailer will continue to operate nearby stores in Skokie, Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Orland Park, Illinois. In early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Macy’s announced that it would close 125 stores nationwide over a three-year period in an effort to right-size its store fleet. This week, Macy’s unveiled …
Denver — Punch Bowl Social has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Denver-based “eatertainment” concept has closed all but three of its locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venues in Austin, Texas; Arlington, Virginia; and Atlanta remain open. In summer 2019, Cracker Barrel invested $140 million in Punch Bowl Social. According to multiple media reports, the restaurant chain chose during the pandemic to not invest any further in Punch Bowl Social, instead focusing on its own business.
Westlake Village, Calif. — Just over three weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Guitar Center appears ready to already emerge from the process. In its original filings, the Westlake Village-based musical instrument and supplies retailer reported its business of instrument purchases, rentals, repairs and music lessons suffered amid the upheaval stemming from government-mandated shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a virtual hearing Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Huennekens, based in Richmond serving the Eastern District of Virginia, approved Guitar Center’s bankruptcy plan, according to Bloomberg. The retailer expects …
Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants Inc. has reported a 19.4 percent decline in total year-over-year revenues during its fiscal year 2021 second quarter, the company said Friday. Orlando-based Darden’s second quarter ended Nov. 29 with $1.66 billion in total revenue compared with $2.06 billion in fiscal second-quarter 2020. Darden owns restaurant brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. Darden reports that Olive Garden year-over-year sales dipped 19 percent to $829.5 million. LongHorn Steakhouse sales fell 8.9 …
Los Angeles — Sameday Testing will open five new COVID-19 testing facilities within Westfield shopping centers. The locations will be at Westfield Annapolis, Westfield Montogmery and Westfield Wheaton in Maryland; The Village at Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills, California; and Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, Illinois. The Los Angeles-based operator now has more than 30 locations in cities including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami. Patrons can receive COVID-19 testing at the sites as well as future vaccinations. “We must grow faster than the virus to beat it — …
Bed Bath & Beyond Agrees to Sell Cost Plus World Market to Private Equity Firm, Including 243 Stores
Union, N.J. and Los Angeles — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has agreed to sell Cost Plus World Market, a specialty retail chain that sells home furniture, décor and international food products. The buyer, Los Angeles-based private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management, expects to continue operations under the Cost Plus World Market banner. The purchase agreement includes 243 brick-and-mortar locations, the World Market digital business, two distribution facilities and a corporate office located in Alameda, California. Both companies have agreed to a transition services agreement (TSA) following the close of …
Orlando, Fla. — Drive Shack Inc. will reopen its 65,000-square-foot location in Orlando on Friday, Dec. 18. The location closed earlier this spring in accordance with local COVID-19 guidelines. The venue is located at 7285 Corner Drive, 21 miles southeast of downtown Orlando. It is open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from noon to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The location will operate with restrictive and precautionary measures in place, including enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols, capacity limitations, social distancing measures and certain restrictions on …
Milwaukee — Outlook Management Group LLC’s president Ray Balfanz has partnered with Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee and other local small businesses to donate food to Milwaukee residents in need. Balfanz created the CollectionConnection to raise money for meals. The six-week fundraiser will end Dec. 31. As of Dec. 11, $2,225 had been raised, which means meals plus one holiday meal for 20 families for one week have been donated through the program. Balfanz is teaming with Wisconsin-based companies such as Pinnacle Construction, LLJ Ventures and Wisconsin Mall Properties. Balfanz says …
Houston — Francesca’s, the Houston-based apparel and accessories chain for women, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will close an additional 97 stores across the country, according to documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Francesca’s had previously announced in mid-November that it would be closing 140 stores, or roughly 20 percent of its total count, and possibly pursuing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration. According to CNBC, Francesca’s has received a buyout offer from Los Angeles-based TerraMar Capital and hopes to close a sale by late January.
Tamarac, Fla. — Sonny’s Enterprises has entered into an agreement to buy Lone Star Car Wash Systems for an undisclosed price. Sonny’s will use the acquisition of the Texas-based car wash company to expand and create Sonny’s CarWash Services of Texas. The Tamarac, Florida-based buyer says current car wash owners and potential investors will have a local team to rely on for help with everything from equipment and chemistry, to site and management consulting, maintenance and repair. “Our proposal to acquire Lone Star was an easy decision because it allows …