The Welcome Wagons Roll Steve McLinden/Shopping Centers Today Retail pays the bills, municipalities are learning now, if they did not know before. This reality has never been more apparent to hundreds of municipalities emerging from the economic meltdown only to struggle with slimmer budgets in the face of closed stores and spending-shy consumers. Little wonder […]

New Saks will mean a gap at Southgate SARASOTA: Luxury retailer confirms Justine Griffin/Sarasota Herald-Tribune Saks Fifth Avenue announced plans late Thursday to close its Westfield Southgate Mall store late next year, ending months of speculation about the luxury retailer’s future in Sarasota. Saks, which plans to open a new, larger department store to anchor […]

Nordstrom presence near mall expected Justine Griffin/Sarasota Herald-Tribune In what could be a forerunner of major new and more upscale retail to the area, Nordstrom Rack is expected to take over the former Circuit City space across from the planned Mall at University Town Center, nearby tenants say. If the Seattle-based merchant occupies the Benderson […]

Sarasota awaits the next move by Walmart Michael Pollick/Sarasota Herald-Tribune The City Commission’s rejection of Walmart’s plans to develop a supercenter on Ringling Boulevard may end up being but a small episode in a prolonged effort that could involve litigation by the Arkansas-based merchant. “They have three options now,” said city attorney Robert Fournier. “Walk […]

Smartphones key mobile growth Kim Leonard/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Shoppers tapping away at smartphones played a big role in ringing up a 171 percent increase in holiday sales via mobile websites developed and tracked by Branding Brand. The South Side-based mobile commerce company monitored 84 retail sites, compared the latest numbers to holiday 2011 and concluded the […]