Content about St. Louis

Build-A-Bear Workshop has gone high-tech. The company has unveiled a new store environment that combines its signature hands-on bear-making experience with innovative digital technology designed to appeal to today’s tech-savvy kids.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has gone high-tech. The company has debuted a new store design that combines its signature hands-on bear-making experience with innovative technology that’s right in line with today’s digitally savvy kids. The new format, which premiered in Build-A-Bear Workshop’s renovated location at West County Center, St. Louis, also provides more interactive options to keep shoppers coming back.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group said that a new lineup of tenants has committed to opening at its St. Louis Premium Outlets property in Chesterfield, Mo., bringing the center to 75% pre-leased.

BCBGMAXAZRIA, Charlotte Russe, Jos. A. Bank, Motherhood Maternity, Max Studio and Sarar will open new stores at the value destination. Sportswear and accessories brands to be featured at the property will include Bass, Gold Toe, Jockey, Rue21, Saucony, Sperry and Vera Bradley. Others include Kitchen Collection, Samsonite, Fragrance Outlet and Ultra Diamonds.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported Thursday a loss of $8.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, compared with a $10.7 million loss in the year-ago period.

Retail sales dipped 1.8% and same-store sales declined 1.7%.

CEO Maxine Clark said she is focused on the future. “In just over a month, we will open our first newly imagined store design in St. Louis with five additional stores opening in major U.S. markets in the following weeks.” 

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open a total of seven new stores in the next two years in its Premium Outlets division, including new centers and existing centers.

St. Charles, Mo. -- Peoria, Ill.-based Cullinan Properties announced that The Art Institute of St. Louis has signed a lease and will be opening a school at the new Streets of St. Charles mixed-use development, with classes scheduled to begin in July.

The development, located in St. Charles/Metro St. Louis, is currently delivering spaces to all of its phase one tenancy.

The Art Institute of St. Louis is one of The Art Institutes, a system of more than 50 educational institutions located throughout North America.

Chesterfield, Mo. -- Bloomington Hills, Mich.-based mall owner Taubman said Thursday that it has broken ground on a high-end outlet mall in Chesterfield, Mo., in suburban St. Louis.

Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield is slated to open in fall 2013 and will feature 450,000 sq. ft. of retail space with more than 100 stores, an open-air design, dog-friendly grounds, access to a levee-fitness trail and a food court.

St. Louis -- HBD Construction said Thursday that it teamed with grocer Dierbergs to build a freestanding store in St. Louis that features an underground parking garage.

The 80,000-sq.-ft. store, located on 6.5 acres, is the first St. Louis-area supermarket to offer covered parking, with 42% of its parking spaces planned for a brightly lit lower-level garage. The construction completion date is estimated to be July 31.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop reported a loss of $9 million for the fourth quarter, down from a profit of $8.3 million in the year-ago period. Total revenue dropped 5% to $119 million. The company said its profit and revenue took a hit when two movies it important product tie-ins with underperformed.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Monday that while profit rose dramatically in the third quarter thanks to a business unit divestiture, the retailer will cut several of its lines and close underperforming stores nationwide to shore up profitability.

Indianapolis -- Electronics and appliance retailer Hhgregg reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 rose to $6 million from $3.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales for the period rose 29% to $618.6 million. Same-store sales rose 1.5%, returning to positive growth after a 5% decline last quarter.

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Co. said Wednesday it has finalized the sale of its And 1 men’s performance and lifestyle brand to Galaxy International for $55 million.

The And 1 brand was part of the $145 million American Sporting Goods acquisition that Brown completed last February in a move to expand its reach into the fitness category.

Brown Shoe said it plans to use the proceeds from the sale of And 1 to pay down debt.