Texas

Plano, Texas — At Home, a home décor and furnishings retailer, posted net sales of $515 million in its fiscal second quarter, which ended July 25, and is reportedly looking to expand its footprint. That figure represents a 42 percent year-over-year increase in comparable store sales. At Home CEO Lee Bird told CNBC over the weekend that the company has been expanding its store count by about 20 percent per year over the last seven years, and that it could grow from its current 219 stores to as many as 600. …

Plano, Texas — J.C. Penney Co. announced on Wednesday that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 1,000 corporate, field management and international positions as part of its store optimization and restructuring plan. The Plano-based retailer, which employs about 90,000 people worldwide, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and announced plans to close about 150 stores two weeks later. According to CNBC, J.C. Penney has reached an agreement with its creditors to extend submission of its new business plan and identify potential investors in the business. The network reports that mall developers Simon Property …

Dallas — The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has announced that Dallas-based AT&T has informed the telecommunications and IT union its plans to permanently shutter 250 AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless stores. The move would impact 1,300 retail jobs. There are currently more than 16,000 AT&T retail locations in the United States, including authorized retailers and company-owned stores and kiosks. CWA also reports that A&T plans to cut 3,400 technician and clerical jobs across the country over the next few weeks. The Dallas Morning News reports that AT&T had to inform …

Plano, Texas — J.C. Penney released an update on its store optimization strategy on Thursday, announcing plans to close 154 stores around the country as part of Phase I of the plan. The closings of those stores are scheduled to begin Friday, June 12. The Plano-based retailer expects to announce additional closings after Phase I, which will feature store-closing sales at the shuttered locations that are expected to take 10 to 16 weeks to complete. A list of which stores are closing as part of Phase I can be found …