Issaquah, Wash. — Issaquah-based Costco Wholesale Corp. has acquired Innovel Solutions, a provider of third-party logistics solutions with nationwide capabilities, for $1 billion. Innovel was a subsidiary of Transform Holdco, which operates Sears and Kmart stores. The acquisition was funded with the company’s existing cash balances. Innovel provides last-mile delivery, complete installation and white glove capabilities for large and/or bulky products. Its network offers coverage to nearly 95 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico. Products served through Innovel include major appliances, furniture, mattresses, televisions, grills, patios, fitness equipment …
Leawood, Kan. — AMC Theatres (NYSE: AMC) has closed all 630 AMC locations in the United States for at least six to 12 weeks, in compliance with local, state and federal directives, and as a precaution to help ensure the health and safety of moviegoers and theater staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company says it will continue to monitor the situation closely and remain flexible on reopening in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and governmental directives. More than a dozen states and major markets …
Greenville, Lula And Vicksburg, Miss. — Eldorado Resorts Inc. has temporarily closed Tropicana Greenville, Isle of Capri Lula and Lady Luck Vicksburg in Mississippi, due to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. The Reno, Nevada-based company said in a press release that the closures are in accordance with the Mississippi Gaming Commission order to shut down operations as of midnight local time, March 16. Eldorado agreed to sell Lady Luck last summer to Twin River Worldwide. The sale is expected to close this year. Eldorado acquired Tropicana Entertainment Inc. and all of …
New York City — Modell’s Sporting Goods has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The fourth-generation, family-owned retailer will close all of its 153 stores throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The New York City-based sporting goods, athletic footwear, active apparel and fan gear retailer was founded in 1889. The company will begin liquidation sales Friday, March 13 and plans to continue operating its online platform. Modell’s …
Warren, Mich. — Art Van Furniture LLC officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Sunday night after announcing Thursday that it would close all of its stores. The Warren-based retailer filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Delaware. In the filing, Art Van said it operates 169 locations, including 92 furniture and mattress showrooms and 77 freestanding mattress and specialty locations. The company expects to close the stores by May 31 and lay off all of its 3,100 employees. Multiple media outlets reported that the company has between $100 million and …
Warren, Mich. — AVF Holdings Inc. has unveiled that it will cease operations and begin liquidation sales at all 141 of its company-owned stores in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio. The Warren-based company operates under the brands Art Van Furniture, Art Van PureSleep and Scott Shuptrine Interiors. Levin & Wolf Furniture in Ohio and Pennsylvania will be sold to Robert Levin, pending court approval. Eight Wolf Furniture stores in Maryland and Virginia will also be liquidated. Art Van Elslander opened his first furniture store in metro Detroit in 1959. …
Fort Worth, Texas — Home furnishing retailer Pier 1 Imports has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The filing comes about six weeks after the Fort Worth-based retailer announced that it would close some 450 stores, about half of its total store count. The company is also closing two distribution centers. Pier 1 has entered into a plan support agreement with its term loan lenders, which include Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and is pursuing a sale …
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) has agreed to acquire an 80 percent interest in Taubman Centers Inc. (NYSE: TCO), a Michigan-based retail owner-operator, for approximately $3.6 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Simon is buying all of Taubman’s common stock at a price of $52.20 per share in an all-cash deal. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2020. The purchase price represents a 51 percent premium over Taubman’s closing price of $34.67 per share Friday, Feb. 7. Taubman’s existing debt, which Simon will assume, was factored …
New York City — Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) has unveiled plans to close 125 of its least productive stores over the next three years. The retailer will also close its offices in San Francisco, downtown Cincinnati and Lorain, Ohio, leaving the New York City office as the sole corporate headquarters. The reorganization strategy also includes increasing the Macy’s digital platform, while optimizing its brick-and-mortar portfolio and lowering overhead costs. Beginning this year, Macy’s expects the strategy to generate annual gross savings of approximately $1.5 billion, to be fully realized by …
Longmont, Colo. — Ziggi’s Coffee, with 21 café/drive-thrus across Colorado, Oklahoma and Arizona, plans to open in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oregon and California — with 16 expected to open in 2020 — as it continues its expansion into new markets. Husband-and-wife-duo Brandon and Camrin Knudsen started the chain on Main Street and 4th Avenue in Longmont in August 2004. Ziggi’s has signed 43 franchisee agreements in seven states, according to Brandon.