Dick’s Sporting Goods To Expand Findlay Headquarters

Map of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Six weeks ago, one of the region’s newest corporate players — Chevron — announced agreements to acquire land for a potential regional headquarters. Now one of the more established local players — Dick’s Sporting Goods — is gearing up to expand its own corporate footprint.

Dick’s has reached an agreement with the Allegheny County Airport Authority to lease about 73 acres at the Northfield Commerce Park near Pittsburgh International Airport “for possible expansion of our corporate campus.”

The Findlay-based retailer’s deal is the latest example of an upsurge of interest in the Parkway West office market, which is benefiting from the need for space by energy companies involved in Marcellus Shale drilling.

But the Dick’s deal shows there are other factors at work as well.

Read more: 
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/dicks-sporting-goods-to-expand-findlay-headquarters-691353/#ixzz2WCGzzLWy

King Of Prussia Mall Announces New Retailers

King of Prussia Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KING OF PRUSSIA — Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company, announced the addition of six new merchants, along with three retailer expansions, to King of Prussia Mall.

The center continues to add stores to its more than 400 retail and dining options.

Tommy Bahama opened its first stand-alone store in Pennsylvania in July.

Athleta is set open by the end of the summer.  Designed and tested by women athletes, Athleta offers women’s swimwear and athletic clothing for yoga, running, golf and tennis. Both stores will be located on the upper level of the Plaza.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120831/FINANCE01/120839902/king-of-prussia-mall-announces-new-retailers?nstrack=sid:48949|met:300|cat:0|order:4#full_story

No Wegmans Stores On The Horizon For Berks County

Wegmans Food Markets (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Berks County is in the cross hairs of grocery retailer Wegmans, but somehow the ninth-largest county in Pennsylvania has never been the target.

Now Berks falls between a new distribution hub in Schuylkill County and some of its stores.

This spring, the Rochester, N.Y., upscale grocer opened the $70 million warehouse in Cass and Foster townships, Wegmans’ third and largest warehouse in Schuylkill.

The company said in May that the move completes a distribution hub for fresh and frozen foods. More than 200 new employees were hired to staff it. The distribution hub was subsidized with state incentives of $731,650 in opportunity zone and job training money and job creation tax credits.

Read more:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=394286

Boscov’s To Open Pair Of Stores

The southwest entrance facade of Woodbridge Mall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Boscov’s Department Store said Thursday that it will open two new department stores, one in New Jersey and one in Maryland, over the next year and a half.

A planned 180,000-square-foot store in New Jersey’s Woodbridge Center mall, Woodbridge, will open in August 2013, while Maryland’s White Marsh Mall will get a 197,000-square-foot store in November, according to a Boscov’s news release.

Read more:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=386979

Amelia’s To Open Two Stores In Cumru And Muhlenberg Townships

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Amelia’s Grocery Outlet plans to open two stores in the Reading area and close its Blandon store.

Michael L. Mitchell, president and chief executive officer, said the New Holland, Lancaster County, company, announced that it expects to open a 20,000-square-foot store in Muhlenberg Plaza, previously occupied by Pet Supply Warehouse, 3260 Fifth Street Highway, Muhlenberg Township, prior to Memorial Day weekend.

At that time, Amelia’s will close its 11,000-square-foot store at 8472 Allentown Pike, Blandon.

Amelia’s also will open a 20,000-square-foot store in subdivided space of the former Weis Markets in Parkside Plaza, Cumru Township, Mitchell said.

Read more:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=374928

7-Eleven Stores Pass 40,000 Locations – More Stores Than McDonald’s!

7-Eleven grows at the rate of a new store opening every three and a half hours.  Really…is that even necessary?  According to 7-Eleven brass, they will add another 2,000 to 2,500 more stores worldwide in 2011.  Five hundred of those will be in the U.S. and Canada.

7-Eleven said they have significant room to grow.  Amazingly, 7-Eleven only operates in 30 U.S. states.  7-Eleven is a subsidiary of Seven-Eleven Japan.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The chain started in Dallas, Texas in 1927.  7-Eleven is now looking to buy existing convenience stores and convert them to 7-Eleven’s.  They are the Borg of the convenience store world.  Resistance is futile.

Another head-scratching factoid is that with a gazillion stores, 7-Eleven stores make up only 5% of the total number of convenience stores in our great nation.  Again, you read that correctly.  Cigarettes are 7-Eleven’s biggest selling item; however, customers can expect to see more hot food and bakery items down the road. 

The chain also has a large private-label program thereby allowing them, sometimes, to only sell the 7-Eleven brand of a particular product.  Less than half of 7-Eleven’s stores sell gasoline, which helps the company open stores faster and in smaller spaces.  On the other hand, 80% of U.S. convenience stores sell fuel.

Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven…evidently.

Dollar General: Recession Success Story – Expanding In 2011

Dollar General Corporation of Goodlettsville, TN is actually thriving during the recession.  Unlike many businesses, Dollar General is expecting to hire 6,000 new employees and open 625 new stores this year.  I doubt we will be seeing many other chains announcing such large-scale expansion plans for 2011.

Dollar General operates 9,200 stores in 35 states.  The expansion will add three more states to that list.  Residents of Nevada, New Hampshire and Connecticut will soon be getting stores near them!

The Pottstown area has two Dollar General stores located in the North End Shopping Center and Stowe Crossing.

Montgomery Mall Getting New Stores And Improvements

For our readers who shop at Montgomery Mall, good news is on the way for you. 

Mall Management has announced the following enhancements or new additions coming to the mall:

1. JC Penny is renovating their 158,000 square foot anchor store.  Part of the renovation will include a Sephora Cosmetics Boutique.

2. Crazy 8, a subsidiary of Gymboree will open a new store.

3. Body Central, a juniors clothing and accessories store will open a new retail site at the mall.

4. Subway is coming to the food court.

5. China Max is coming to the food court.

6. An Atlantic Book store location is opening.

7. A new AT&T store is coming soon.

8. Weight Watchers is opening a store in the mall.

The Friday evening concert series will continue again this year.  Music starts at 7 pm in various locations around the mall.

http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=847