Content about Texas

Invest in the right experience for a shopping center's customers, and you will earn a return on experience. That is the business model driving Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Co., which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

"Do customers love being at the center? Do they come back and drive sales? That is return on experience," said Terry Montesi, Trademark chairman, CEO and founder. Experience is indispensable today when most goods and services are available online, often at a lower price.

El Paso, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial Real Estate said it has negotiated leases for two retailers entering or expanding in the El Paso, Texas, market.
 
Rue21 has opened a 5,000-sq.-ft. store at El Paseo Marketplace, its fourth location in El Paso.

Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry has signed a lease to open its first El Paso location in a 6,057-sq.-ft. store at The Fountains at Farah, a 600,000-sq.-ft. power lifestyle center currently under construction and opening fall 2013.   

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.
    

Sometimes, to meet consumer demand you have to get creative. That’s what developer Centergy Retail, LLC, Dallas, did in the conceptualization of a hybrid power-lifestyle center in the heart of El Paso, Texas.

One of the few ground-up developments in the U.S., The Fountains at Farah will open October 2013 with 600,000 sq. ft. of best-in-class national junior anchor stores, fashion and name brand retailers, and upscale boutiques, restaurants and retail service uses.

When Swann’s opened its 51,000-sq.-ft. freestanding flagship store in Tyler, Texas, it unveiled a new design that takes the 117-year-old furniture retailer and home design consultant to an even higher-end level.

Stamford, Conn.-based Martin Roberts Design completed the $4.4-million Swann’s store, with the objective of elevating both the retailer and its surroundings.

Denton, Texas -- The MGHerring Group and Cencor Realty Services said that The Buckle will open a store at Golden Triangle Mall, located in Denton, Texas.

Buckle will occupy 5,040 sq. ft. and will open in fall 2013. In addition, the list of new tenants includes food court eateries Italia Express, Tobu Oriental Eatery and Smoothie Paradise.

I recently attended Chain Store Age’s 49th annual Store Planning, Equipment, Construction and Facilities Services Seminars (SPECS) in Dallas, Texas. While SPECS always gives me plenty to think about, this year was especially interesting thanks to the debut of a new segment on Real Estate Development. In addition to other workshop “tracks” like Facilities, Business Strategies, and Planning & Design, the inclusion of Real Estate Development to the mix really brought new (and important) perspectives.

San Francisco -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said Monday that construction is about to begin on the site of what will become Market Street Place, a 250,000-sq.-ft. retail center scheduled to open in 2015 and co-developed by Cypress Equities and The Carlyle Group.

Market Street Place will be a six-level, urban retail redevelopment designed by Gensler’s San Francisco architectural team.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Fort Worth, Texas-based Trademark Property Co. announced that TJX Cos. concepts T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods will open this fall at The Shops at La Palmera, a 200,000-sq.-ft. outdoor shopping center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Construction has already begun on the 44,750-sq.-ft. space accommodating the two new stores, which will be located adjacent to one another, each with a separate store entrance. The Shops at La Palmera store marks T.J. Maxx’s first in Corpus Christi. HomeGoods is new to market also.

Abilene, Kansas -- Alco Stores Inc. said Wednesday it is moving its corporate headquarters from Abilene, Kan., to a suburb of Dallas, citing the need to be “in a more metropolitan area.”

The new Coppell, Texas offices will give the company easy access to many of its stores, other major retailers and transportation for its workers and business partners, CEO Rich Wilson said in a Wednesday statement.

The move is slated to occur in June.

New York -- Store development and facilities professionals from some of the nation’s biggest retail and restaurant chains gathered in Dallas, Texas, to attend Chain Store Age’s 49th annual SPECS Conference, March 17-20, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.   

The show combined a premier educational program — featuring more than 30 individual workshop sessions — and dynamic keynote presentations with plenty of business networking opportunities and a lively exhibit floor.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp reported a nearly 50% increase rise in fourth-quarter profit fueled by gains in its mobile and digital businesses. Profit rose to $261.1 million from $174.7 million.

Revenue for the quarter ended Feb. 2, 2013, totaled $3.56 billion compared to $3.58 billion last year. Same-store sales were down 4.6%.