Content about Austin

May 7, 2013

In the retail real estate landscape, there aren't as many networking options as one might think. Even fewer if you narrow it down to those events that put landlords and tenants in the same room, along with entertainment, face-to-face meet and greets, and mutually beneficial educational sessions.

May 2, 2013

Study: Marketing's influence in retail IT decisions growing sharply

The bond is growing stronger between retailers' marketing and IT departments, and investments and activity in marketing-related IT projects are on the rise, according to a new study from EKN.

Austin, Texas -- The bond is growing stronger between retailers' marketing and IT departments, and investments and activity in marketing-related IT projects are on the rise, according to a new study from EKN. More than 60% of the survey respondents indicated that the number of IT projects focused on marketing initiatives will increase in 2013 over last year.

January 7, 2013

Accruent acquires Expesite

Austin, Texas -- Accruent, a leading provider of real estate and facilities software, announced that it has acquired Expesite, Columbus, Ohio, a provides a suite of SaaS solutions highlighted by VisionPM, its design and construction project management product.

January 3, 2013

Seven Steps for Developing an Effective Compliance and Ethics Program

By Kristin Graham Koehler and Brian P. Morrissey, Sidley Austin LLP

By Kristin Graham Koehler, kkoehler@sidley.com; and Brian P. Morrissey, bmorrissey@sidley.com

October 26, 2012

Whole Foods to buy six leases from Massachusetts family-owned grocery chain

Whole Foods Market said it will acquire six leases from Johnnie's Foodmaster, a family-owned grocery chain based in Chelsea, Mass.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market said Friday it will acquire six leases from Johnnie's Foodmaster, a family-owned grocery chain based in Chelsea, Mass. The transaction is expected to close Nov. 30.

Johnnie's Foodmaster will close all six locations prior to the closing date, but Whole Foods said it has guaranteed interviews to all Johnnie's Foodmaster employees at the six acquired locations with the goal of hiring as many as possible.

September 19, 2012

SecureNet opens new tech center in Austin; also expanding to Silicon Valley

SecureNet Payment Systems, a leader in payment processing technology, announced it has opened a new technology and innovation center in Austin, Texas, and revealed plans for a client operations center in Silicon Valley, Calif., later this year.

Austin, Texas -- SecureNet Payment Systems, a leader in payment processing technology, announced it has opened a new technology and innovation center in Austin, Texas, and revealed plans for a client operations center in Silicon Valley, Calif., later this year. SecureNet is expanding its footprint to house its growing staff, attract top talent and continue its close collaboration with clients in providing the most innovative single source/multi-channel solutions in the payments industry.

September 6, 2012

Saks to shutter an Illinois and a Texas store

Saks Inc. said that it will close its Highland Park, Ill., store, located in Renaissance Place, and its Austin, Texas, store, located in the Arboretum Market.

New York -- Saks Inc. said Thursday that it will close its Highland Park, Ill., store, located in Renaissance Place, and its Austin, Texas, store, located in the Arboretum Market.

Both stores are slated to close on Dec. 31.

August 15, 2012

Focus on: Holiday Prep

There’s no question about it: Shoppers will have more options than ever before when it comes to shopping this holiday, from where and how they shop to how they pay. Given the myriad of choices available, experts agree that one of the keys to a successful holiday season — and long-term survival — is customer engagement.

August 14, 2012

7-Eleven re-enters San Antonio with TETCO acquisition; announces spin-off of 30 Wilson Farms

7-Eleven said Tuesday it will acquire the retail and wholesale assets of San Antonio-based TETCO, which includes company-operated convenience stores in Utah and the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio areas of Texas.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said Tuesday it will acquire the retail and wholesale assets of San Antonio-based TETCO, which includes company-operated convenience stores in Utah and the Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio areas of Texas.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and closing is expected in November. The acquisition also signals a return to San Antonio for 7-Eleven, where the company had operated stores until 1989.

June 15, 2012

Lord & Taylor in wind energy agreement with Green Mountain Energy

Green Mountain Energy announced that Lord & Taylor is purchasing 100% wind energy for seven of its stores in New Jersey.

Austin, Texas -- Green Mountain Energy announced that Lord & Taylor is purchasing 100% wind energy for seven of its stores in New Jersey. With this purchase, Lord & Taylor becomes the first commercial customer in New Jersey for Green Mountain, which recently began selling to businesses in the Garden State.

May 14, 2012

Canada’s Golf Town to acquire Golfsmith International

Golf Town, Canada's largest specialty golf retailer, will acquire Golfsmith International Holdings Inc. for approximately $97.2 million.

Toronto -- Golf Town, Canada's largest specialty golf retailer, will acquire Golfsmith International Holdings Inc. for approximately $97.2 million. The Canadian company will pay $6.10 per share in cash, which represents a 30% premium over the Austin, Texas-based Golfsmith’s Friday closing stock price of $4.71.

Golfsmith operates 85 stores in the United States.

May 11, 2012

Whole Foods app rewards green behavior

Whole Foods is rewarding customers that live a green lifestyle through a new app it created with Whole Planet Foundation and BlueAvocado.

Austin, Texas — Whole Foods is rewarding customers that live a green lifestyle through a new app it created with Whole Planet Foundation and BlueAvocado.

May 3, 2012

Whole Food Q2 profit surges 31%; on track to open 24 to 27 stores

In what it called the best quarter in its 32-year history, Whole Foods Market’s second-quarter profit jumped nearly 31% on stronger sales.

Austin, Texas -- In what it called the best quarter in its 32-year history, Whole Foods Market’s second-quarter profit jumped nearly 31% on stronger sales. The company raised its full-year outlook on the results.

“Our exceptional results in the first half of the year have given us the confidence to significantly raise our guidance for the full year. We are confident that our sales momentum and operating disciplines will create continued positive results for our shareholders," Walter Robb, co-CEO said in a statement.

April 19, 2012

Cencor names asset and property management head

Cencor Realty Services said that Jeff Nebrat has been promoted to senior VP and head of asset and property management for Cencor Realty Services’ Austin office.

Austin, Texas -- Cencor Realty Services said that Jeff Nebrat has been promoted to senior VP and head of asset and property management for Cencor Realty Services’ Austin office.

Nebrat, who has been with the company for 14 years, now oversees all asset and property management operations of the 2.8 million-sq.-ft. portfolio of properties operated by Cencor in Austin. His property management duties involve leading the day-to-day operations of a portfolio that encompasses 40 retail centers with more than 500 tenants.

February 9, 2012

Whole Foods profit rises 33%; 69 new stores in development

Whole Foods Market Inc. reported that profit for the first quarter rose a better-than-expected 33% to $118.3 million amid increased customer visits and higher prices on select items.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market Inc. reported Wednesday that profit for the first quarter rose a better-than-expected 33% to $118.3 million amid increased customer visits and higher prices on select items. On a follow-up conference call with analysts, the chain revealed it has 69 new stores in development, or 2.4 million square feet, in development.

February 6, 2012

H-E-B details growth and remodeling plans for Austin market

H. E. Butt Grocery Co. plans to spend about $100 million to expand, remodel and relocate several of its stores in Austin, Texas, during 2012, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

New York -- H. E. Butt Grocery Co. plans to spend about $100 million to expand, remodel and relocate several of its stores in Austin, Texas, during 2012, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The move is part of a larger, statewide expansion and price-cutting campaign.

January 26, 2012

Golfsmith to open 10 stores

Golfsmith announced plans to open 10 stores and relocate four existing locations in fiscal 2012, increasing its sq. ft. by 17.5% and adding a more experiential presence.

Austin, Texas -- Golfsmith announced Thursday plans to open 10 stores and relocate four existing locations in fiscal 2012, increasing its sq. ft. by 17.5% and adding a more experiential presence.

The new 2012 stores include locations in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville and Atlanta. The relocations will move stores into spaces that provide an updated and expanded golf retail experience that mirrors the company's new stores.

All scheduled store openings and relocations are slated for completion by year’s end

January 4, 2012

Sprouts Farmers Market to close three stores in Austin, Texas

Sprouts Farmers Markets plans to close three of its six stores in Austin, Texas.

Phoenix -- Sprouts Farmers Markets plans to close three of its six stores in Austin, Texas.

Sprouts announced the closings via Twitter. In the tweet, it said that employees of the three stores that are closing would be assigned to other locations.

December 15, 2011

Davaco acquires Ecoxera

Davaco has acquired Ecoxera, an Austin, Texas-based retail sustainability consulting firm. Justin Doak, who is the founder of Ecoxera, will continue to serve as president.

DALLAS — Davaco has acquired Ecoxera, an Austin, Texas-based retail sustainability consulting firm. Justin Doak, who is the founder of Ecoxera, will continue to serve as president.

November 30, 2011

Mint.com reveals cities with most Black Friday shopping activity

The 15 cities with the most shopping activity on Black Friday 2011 were Manhattan, N.Y.; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Brooklyn, N.Y.; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Chicago; San Diego; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Saint Louis; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Minneapolis, according to mint.com, an online personal finance site.

San Francisco -- The 15 cities with the most shopping activity on Black Friday 2011 were Manhattan, N.Y.; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Brooklyn, N.Y.; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Chicago; San Diego; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Saint Louis; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Minneapolis, according to mint.com, an online personal finance site.

November 23, 2011

Crocs unveils new store concept

Casual footwear-retailer Crocs debuted its new concept store, with locations in Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.; Barton Creek, Austin, Tex.; and Streets at Southpoint, Durham, N.C.

Niwot, Colo. -- Casual footwear-retailer Crocs debuted its new concept store, with locations in Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.; Barton Creek, Austin, Texas; and Streets at Southpoint, Durham, N.C.

November 3, 2011

Whole Foods Q4 income surges 31%

Whole Foods Market reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 31% to $75.5 million on higher sales, beating analysts' expectations.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 31% to $75.5 million on higher sales, beating analysts' expectations. But the company's outlook for next year's profit fell just short of what analysts forecast on average.

Revenue increased 12% to $2.35 billion.

October 31, 2011

Zale uses NewComLink platform to expand customer financing options

NewComLink announced that Zale Corp. has implemented the NewComLink platform as part of its new program to provide alternative financing options to its U.S. customers.

Austin, Texas -- NewComLink announced that Zale Corp. has implemented the NewComLink platform as part of its new program to provide alternative financing options to its U.S. customers.

Zale announced the new alternative financing program on Aug. 31.

October 27, 2011

Footlocker opens at Hancock Center

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Footlocker has opened at Hancock Center, located in Austin, Texas.

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Footlocker has opened at Hancock Center, located in Austin, Texas. The retailer opened a 2,946-sq.-ft. store, and will be joined by Family Chiropractic, which is slated to open an 1,100-sq.-ft. center in November.

The 410,437-sq.-ft. neighborhood center is anchored by a 90,217-sq.-ft. H-E-B alongside national retailers such as Petco, Quiznos and 24 Hour Fitness.

October 4, 2011

Regency Centers acquires Tech Ridge Center

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it closed on the acquisition of Tech Ridge Center, an 187,529-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping located in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 26.

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it closed on the acquisition of Tech Ridge Center, an 187,529-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping located in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 26.

Built in 2001, Tech Ridge Center is anchored by an 84,352-sq.-ft. H-E-B alongside national retailers including Office Depot, Petco, Subway and Massage Envy. The center is 93% occupied.