Company News

MERIDEN, CONN. — Bob’s Stores is closing all locations and liquidating its inventory as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring petition filed on June 18. The Meriden-based clothing retailer, which is a subsidiary of GoDigital Media Group, was unable to secure the financing needed to maintain operations. Bob’s began going-out-of-business sales in stores on June 28 with discounts of 30 to 70 percent off merchandise. Hilco Merchant Resources, in a joint venture with Gordon Brothers, is managing the liquidation event that includes all 21 remaining stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.  Shoppers will find discounts on workwear, footwear, team wear and everyday clothing. Select store fixtures, furniture and equipment will also be available for sale. All sales are final, and the event runs through July 14. “We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bob’s Stores,” says Dave Barton, president. “Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years.” Bob’s began as a single-store surplus outlet in Connecticut in 1954. The chain grew to roughly three dozen locations at its peak. CNBC reports that Bob’s entered a period of financial turmoil at the beginning of this century that eventually amounted …

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DEERFIELD, ILL. — Walgreens (NASDAQ: WBA) is set to close a significant portion of its store locations across the United States over the next three years. The company is finalizing its “footprint optimization program” after failing to meet earnings expectations in its fiscal third quarter, which ended May 31. Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth reported in the company’s earnings call on Thursday morning that 25 percent of stores in the United States were not profitable, and that “changes are imminent” for those locations. The retail pharmacy chain currently runs about 8,600 locations in the United States, meaning that as many as 2,150 underperforming stores face potential closure. “We are finalizing a multifactor store footprint optimization program, which we expect will include the closure of a significant portion of these underperforming stores over the next three years,” said Wentworth. “Plans to finalize this number are in motion, and we will update you in due course.” Even among the underperforming stores that will remain open, “we will contemplate additional closures if performance does not improve, which includes external factors, such as reimbursement rates,” said Wentworth. “While it is not an easy decision to close a store, we will work to minimize customer disruptions. …

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ALEXANDRIA, LA. — Wisconsin-based retail chain Batteries Plus has signed a six-unit franchise agreement in Louisiana. The first of the stores is scheduled to open in Alexandria this year, with additional locations planned throughout the state. Franchisees Duane Carmouche, Mitch Matthews and Mohamad Zeidan will own and operate the units. Batteries Plus’ current portfolio features more than 800 stores in the U.S., including 10 in Louisiana. Private equity firm Freeman Spogli owns the brand, which offers battery and repair services for a variety of electronics and vehicle uses. 

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SAN DIEGO — San Diego-based Jack in the Box has announced plans to open 15 restaurants in Georgia, marking the first entry into the state for the fast-casual brand. According to a press release from the company, the new sites have not yet been selected, but plans include a focus on the Macon, Augusta and Savannah markets. A franchisee will own and operate the restaurants. Jack in the Box also recently announced a commitment to 30 new locations in Florida. 

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Alamo-Drafthouse

CULVER CITY, CALIF. AND AUSTIN, TEXAS  — Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema from Altamont Capital Partners, Fortress Investment Group and founder Tim League for an undisclosed price.  Alamo Drafthouse was founded in 1997 in Austin, and has grown from a single mom-and-pop location to 35 cinemas across 25 metropolitan areas. The company is the seventh-largest theater chain in North America and was one of the pioneers of the in-theater elevated food and drink concept.  Alamo Drafthouse will maintain its headquarters in Austin and will continue to operate all of its locations, as well as the company’s Fantastic Fest film festival, which was included in the acquisition. Sony will manage these entities under a newly established division, Sony Pictures Experiences, led by Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann.  The acquisition is groundbreaking, as it was recently made possible through the Department of Justice’s decision in 2020 to rescind the Paramount Decrees. Put into place by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948, the Decrees mandated a separation between film distribution and exhibition, requiring major motion picture studios to divest of any theater holdings.  “We are excited to make history with Sony Pictures Entertainment and have found the right home …

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SPRING, TEXAS — Locally based brokerage firm Newcor Commercial has arranged the sale of a one-acre hotel development site at 500 Rayford Road in the northern Houston suburb of Spring. David Alexander and Josh Cheatham of Newcor represented the buyer, an entity doing business as Shree Rang Krupa of Texas LLC, which plans to develop a 60-room Studio 6-Extended Stay hotel on the site. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks and to be complete in early 2026. Gus Lagos of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, Woodlands Warehouse LLC.

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CHESAPEAKE, VA. — Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) has announced a formal review of its Family Dollar business segment, including the possibility of selling, spinning off or other disposition methods of the brand. In March, Dollar Tree announced the closure of 1,000 stores nationally, approximately 970 of which were underperforming Family Dollar Stores. Additionally, Dollar Tree has recently acquired up to 170 former 99 Cents Only stores. “Dollar Tree has been on a multi-year journey to help the company fully achieve its potential,” says Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO of Dollar Tree Inc. “Our goal is to position both the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar banners to progress further and faster, and to determine whether the exclusive attention of a dedicated team will benefit both, while creating value for Dollar Tree shareholders and other stakeholders.” Family Dollar’s same-store net sales increased 0.1 percent year-over-year in fiscal first-quarter 2024, which ended May 4. (The data does not include the previously mentioned stores that Dollar Tree closed during the first quarter.) By comparison, Dollar Tree’s same-store net sales increased 1.7 percent in the same time period. Dollar Tree has retained J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as its financial advisor and Davis Polk & Wardwell …

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CHESAPEAKE, VA. — Dollar Tree has acquired designation rights for 170 leases of 99 Cents Only Stores across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. This deal was completed through two transactions in May that were approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. As part of the transactions, Dollar Tree also purchased the intellectual property of 99 Cents Only Stores and select on-site furniture, fixtures and equipment. In April, California-based 99 Cents Only Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and initiated a process to dispose of its assets, including its inventory, owned real estate and store leases. Dollar Tree anticipates beginning to open some of the shuttered 99 Cents Only Stores under the Dollar Tree brand as early as this fall.

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HOUSTON — Partners Real Estate will expand and relocate its office headquarters to a 32,286-square-foot space at San Felipe Plaza, a 1 million-square-foot building in West Houston’s Galleria District. The full-service firm currently subleases space at the nearby building at 1360 Post Oak Blvd., a deal that expires next March. Dan Boyles and Griff Bandy internally represented Partners in the lease negotiations. New York-based Sovereign Partners owns San Felipe Plaza.

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LUBBOCK, TEXAS — Tangram Interiors, a Dallas-based interior design firm, has opened a new office at 6510 70th St. in Lubbock. Britni Wilkens, a sales executive with the company, will lead the Lubbock office, which is the seventh for Tangram Interiors. The company’s other five offices are located in California. Tangram Interiors is the flagship dealer for office furniture manufacturer Steelcase, which recently opened a new showroom in Dallas.

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