INDUSTRY NEWS
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AroundtheIndustry RETAIL
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Target Stores/Apple Target will unveil an expanded selection of iPads, iPhones and other Apple devices in special sections in 17 stores starting this quarter, with plans to roll out the enhanced Apple-branded sections to more locations later on. The new experience has debuted on Target’s e-commerce site and the in-store shops will be staffed by Apple-trained employees.
Noodles & Company Noodles & Company is focusing on the South for future growth, with plans to find franchisees to open new units in six states. The chain expects to sign new operators by this summer and start opening stores in the new markets next year.
Best Buy Best Buy is experimenting with a store format that cuts selling space down from about 27,000 square feet to 15,000 and dedicates the rest of the space to e-commerce fulfillment. The retailer started testing the format at four Minneapolis stores last year and plans to expand it to one or two more markets. Sephora Sephora plans to add more stores as it pushes ahead to attract shoppers outside of struggling US malls. The company will add more than 60 freestanding stores this year—85% of which won’t be in malls. The new stores come on top of its previously announced 200 Sephora “mini shops” inside of Kohl’s stores. Dick’s Sporting Goods Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to expand its physical footprint this quarter with the launch of five locations—one namesake location in Concord, North Carolina, and four Warehouse Sale units in Friendswood, Texas; Oklahoma City; Deer Park, New York; and Kissimmee, Florida. Dollar General Dollar General has introduced a new retail concept dubbed Popshelf, with plans to open the first two locations near Nashville this fall and the goal of having about 30 US stores running by the end of the 2021 fiscal year. Popshelf stores are designed to appeal to higher-income consumers with a focus on nonessentials, including home decor, beauty supplies and party goods. Lidl Lidl will spend $10.5 million on wage increases as part of a larger $1.7 billion growth plan that calls for growing to 1,000 UK stores over the next three years.
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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 2, 2021
Lil’ Sweet Chick New York City-based chain Lil’ Sweet Chick, which was forced to close indoor dining across all five locations in NYC and Los Angeles, is moving to a limited service format, including a new logo, branding, menus and indoor flow. Spago/ Spago L’extérieur Wolfgang Puck is expanding Spago with a 6,500-square-foot outdoor dining area in front of the Beverly Hills, California restaurant. The new space, called Spago L’extérieur, is located in the Canon Drive cul-de-sac. It will feature a large tent with slotted walls, vented semi-private seating areas, a cocktail lounge and lobby. The modular structure is designed to adapt to changing dining restrictions. Shake Shack Shake Shack plans to grow its roster of restaurants by 45% over the next two years with 10% of those planned for new markets. The chain’s recovery will hinge on a revival in urban markets and a return to widespread travel. Salt & Straw Premium ice cream retailer Salt & Straw has expanded beyond the West Coast with the opening of the first of two planned Miami scoop shops. The 10-year-old company, which has backing from Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, also has grown its local delivery and national shipping during the pandemic. Starbucks Starbucks built its business on being a gathering place as much as a seller of coffee, but the pandemic has spurred the chain to focus on new formats. The drive-thru has become the chain’s most productive model, and its “future drive-thru concept” will include smaller stores, drive-thru only units and other changes designed to serve new customer demands.
