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Almost 900 New Locations on the Horizon for Sprouts, La-Z-Boy and Nashco
Shop-in-Shop Partnerships Expand Across Retail and Restaurants
Wheeler REIT Plans Sale of 35 Retail Centers
Apollo Commercial Mortgage REIT Plans To Wind Down
Consumers Pick Top Shopping Centers, Malls and Quick-Service Restaurants
Mahjong Venue Opens at South Florida Mall as Game Gains Popularity
JLL Launches Retail Design, Architecture and Project Management Group
NAI Burns Scalo Expands Into Southwest Florida Through Acquisition
Allison Davies Joins NAI Hallmark as CFO
Chodrow Realty Advisors’ Eric Rozelle Has Passed Away

Sprouts Targets as Many as 1,200 U.S. Stores

Sprouts Farmers Market, which recorded $8.8 billion in revenue last year, is on the brink of a big growth spurt. The grocer operates more than 480 locations now and aims for an eventual count of up to 1,200 U.S. stores, the Boston Business Journal reported. The expansion will include major pushes into the Northeast and Midwest, with at least 40 stores set to open in the current fiscal year and nearly 150 stores approved.

La-Z-Boy Plans To Grow to 450 North American Stores

Furniture retailer La-Z-Boy is targeting a 450-store footprint in North America, up from 378 at the end of fiscal year 2026, which ended on April 25. On a recent earnings call, president and CEO Melinda Whittington said expansion of company-owned stores, representing about 60% of La-Z-Boy’s physical presence, would be the primary driver of brick-and-mortar growth. The company expects to open about 10 stores each fiscal year going forward. In fiscal year 2026, the retailer added 15 new company-owned stores and acquired 15 independent La-Z-Boy stores — both the largest annual expansions in company history. In May, La-Z-Boy opened its 16th Joybird brick-and-mortar store.

Nashco Parent Plans 100 C-Stores After Bankruptcy Case Dismissal

With its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case dismissed just a month after filing, Eagles Investments Group is eyeing an expansion to 100 convenience stores in the U.S., C-Store Dive reported. Now on more solid financial footing, Eagles will convert the 20 c-stores it currently controls through land ownership to its Nashco banner. President and CEO Ali Nasher told C-Store Dive that in addition to those converted locations, Eagles plans to acquire another 80 stores, all of which would operate under the Nashco brand.

Lids Shops Will Expand to More Than 100 Dick’s Stores

Under a new partnership, Lids shops selling licensed sports headwear are popping up at Dick’s. As of June 15, Lids shops already operated at 46 Dick’s stores, according to Dick’s. That count is set to grow to more than 100 by late this summer. Lids sells sports headwear and apparel at more than 2,000 retail locations in North America, Europe and Australia.

Bath & Body Works Shops Are Coming to 600-Plus Ulta Beauty Stores

In an initiative kicking off July 12, Bath & Body Works is expanding its brick-and-mortar reach with stores-within-stores at more than 600 Ulta Beauty stores in the U.S. The shops will feature curated offerings of its body care and home fragrance products.

FAO Schwarz Expands From Nordstrom’s Manhattan Flagship to More Stores

Meanwhile, toy retailer FAO Schwarz is following this week’s opening within Nordstrom’s Manhattan flagship with shops at eight more Nordstrom locations: Florida’s Aventura Mall; Washington state’s Bellevue Square; California’s Brea Mall; Paramus, New Jersey’s Westfield Garden State Plaza; Dallas’ NorthPark Center; Illinois’ Oakbrook Center; Costa Mesa, California’s South Coast Plaza; and San Diego’s Fashion Valley. A Nordstrom spokesperson said the shops will range from 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. They will complement the addition of FAO Schwarz toys to Nordstrom’s e-commerce offerings.

Shaq-Backed Big Chicken Will Open Inside Elev8 Adventure Parks

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s fast-casual concept, Big Chicken, will expand from its current 40 locations — across arenas, airports, cruise ships, entertainment centers and traditional storefronts — via venues within Elev8 adventure parks. The first will debut during the third quarter in Elev8’s soon-to-open Doral, Florida, location near Miami. Big Chicken then will roll out to Elev8’s existing Tampa location, followed by three more Florida adventure parks: Orlando, Jensen Beach and Jacksonville. “Since Elev8 will continue to expand even beyond Miami, we needed a brand and food partner that understood our audiences and could be marketed in a scalable manner,” said Elev8 managing partner David Goldfarb. “Shaquille is a larger-than-life icon who won a championship with the Miami Heat, so launching his brand first at our Miami location will behoove all parties.”

Wheeler REIT Plans Sale of 35 Retail Centers

Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, which primarily owns grocery-anchored retail centers, has hired CBRE to sell 35 of its 59 retail properties as a portfolio, according to paperwork filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Wheeler didn’t identify which 35 properties are being marketed for sale. The REIT’s 59 properties span Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. From March 2025 to March 2026, Wheeler shed 10 properties. Minus depreciation, Wheeler’s real estate was valued at $480 million on March 31.

Apollo Commercial Mortgage REIT Plans To Wind Down

Consumers Pick Top Shopping Centers, Malls and Quick-Service Restaurants

USA Today crowned Peddler’s Village in Pennsylvania the country’s top shopping center and Jersey Mike’s made a splash by dethroning Chick-fil-A as America's favorite quick-service restaurant.

Peddler’s Village Tops USA Today’s Shopping Center List

The votes are in, and there’s a new No. 1 shopping center in the country. The 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards crowned Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pennsylvania, the country’s top shopping center. USA Today said cobblestone paths, gazebos and garden walkways lend storybook charm to Peddler’s Village, situated on 42 acres north of Philadelphia in the Bucks County countryside. The shopping center, which ranked second last year, comprises more than 60 specialty shops, an array of dining options and the Golden Plough Inn. Seasonal events like the Strawberry and Scarecrow festivals “add to its appeal as a year-round spot for shopping, strolling and celebrating,” USA Today said.

In the Readers’ Choice mall category, South Florida’s Aventura Mall and Bloomington, Minnesota’s Mall of America repeated their No. 1 and 2 placements. East Rutherford, New Jersey’s American Dream moved up from seventh place to third.

Jersey Mike’s Takes No. 1 Spot in QSR Customer Satisfaction

In the quick-service category of the American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant and Food Delivery Study 2026. Jersey Mike’s Subs debuted on the index with a score of 84, edging out Chick-fil-A, which received a score of 83 and had ruled the QSR roost for 11 straight years. Consumers surveyed for the study praised Jersey Mike’s for freshness, food variety and value. The chain operates more than 3,200 sub shops in the U.S. and Canada.

The venue appeals to a growing base of mahjong players in the U.S., where Yelp named mahjong a top lifestyle trend for 2026. “Mahjong was once labeled a gambling game and even banned in China for being too ‘bourgeois,’” Florida Weekly reported. “These days, mahjong has gone far beyond the game room, evolving into a lively social setting complete with themed sets, stylish accessories and even trendy mahjong brunches.”

JLL Launches Retail Design, Architecture and Project Management Group

JLL has set up a business that will offer design, architecture and multisite project management services to retailers. The new retail solutions group sits within JLL’s project and development services unit. Mark Bateman will lead the group as executive managing director, joining from WD Partners. And Kevin Songer joins from Gensler as managing director of architecture.

—Additional reporting by C+CT editor-in-chief Amanda Metcalf