Cincinnati — Retailers and restaurants have adopted new techniques for serving customers in the midst of a global pandemic, according to Phillips Edison & Co.’s (PECO) Emerging Trends report. PECO says the most intriguing storylines to watch heading into 2021 are the rise of ghost kitchens, “groceraunts” and drone delivery. The Cincinnati-based company released the report as part of ICSC’s virtual ReCon event in New York City. Ghost kitchens are kitchens that cook and prepare food for delivery-only. Some national brands such as Fatburger, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Shake Shack, …
Menomonee Falls, Wis. and San Francisco — Sephora will debut at least 850 “Sephora at Kohl’s” locations within Kohl’s stores by 2023, the San Francisco-based cosmetic company announced. The locations will span 2,500 square feet and will typically be situated near the front of each Kohl’s. Sephora at Kohl’s shops will replace Kohl’s current in-store beauty assortment. Exterior signage at locations that feature the in-store shops will display both Kohl’s and Sephora branding. These locations will be selected based on existing Sephora store proximity, market opportunity and customer insights. Menomonee …
Westlake Village, Calif. — Musical instrument retailer Guitar Center has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Westlake Village-based company did not announce plans to close any of its 297 stores, but it has retained A&G Real Estate Partners to explore opportunities for its real estate portfolio. In court filings, Guitar Center cited 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, according to The …
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 …
Dick’s Sporting Goods Reports 23.2 Percent Third-Quarter Sales Increase, Announces Leadership Change
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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. …
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. …