Desert Moon Cafe (877-564-6362) opened its first in-line restaurant at Danbury Green Shopping Center in Danbury, CT. The company has four more in-line units under construction. The company opened its first New York City location with a 1,800 sq.ft. store on Seventh Avenue across from the campus of the Fashion Institute of Technology. The company also opened three stores in the Washington, DC market at the Park and Shop Center in Cleveland Park, at the Bradlee Center in Old Alexandria and on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, MD.

REX TV and Appliances (770-442-8284) plans to open 10 to 15 stores in fiscal 2001. The company opened 30 locations in fiscal 2000 and operates 262 stores in 34 states.

Krispy Kreme (336-725-2981) awarded the development rights for Fargo, ND and Sioux Falls, SD to Rion LLC. Rion has placed franchises in Des Moines, IA; Omaha, NE; Lincoln, NE and Cedar Rapids, IA. The company also opened a unit in Lone Tree, CO with Glazed Investments, LLC.

Nationwide Nutrition Outlet (727-545-1186) formerly Nutrition Club, plans to open six to 10 locations in 2001. The company has recently switched to a discount concept and operates seven stores in western PA and OH and is looking to franchise.

Buca, Inc. (612-288-2382) plans to open 17 Buca Di Beppo restaurants in 2001. Nine units have been opened in the first quarter and 16 of the 17 units will be opened before the holiday season. The company operates 60 locations in 17 states and DC.

Winn-Dixie (904-783-5000) plans to open 19 stores and acquire 77 units in fiscal 2001. The company currently has seven stores under construction. The company operates 1,155 stores, of which 972 are larger than 35,000 sq.ft.

Target (612-304-6099) will open a 126,000 sq.ft. store on an 11.1-acre parcel located at the intersection of West 11th Avenue and Belt Line Road in West Eugene, OR. The site is across from a spot where Wal*Mart had said it will build a superstore and less than one mile from the Fred Meyer store.

PetsMart (623-580-6100) has submitted a proposal to open a 19,000 sq.ft. store adjacent to the Home Depot on Hover Street in Longmont, CO. The company will open two stores in CO, in Parker and Ken Caryl, during 2001. The company operates five stores in CO and more than 525 locations across North America.

Morton’s Restaurant Group (516-627-1515) will open a Morton’s Steakhouse at Riverside Square in Bergen County, NJ. The unit is scheduled to open in spring 2002. The company operates 57 locations worldwide trading as Morton’s Steakhouse and Bertolini’s.

Century Theaters (415-448-8400) reopened the Galaxy 6 Cinemas at the Del Monte Center in Monterey, CA. The theater had been operated by Resort Theaters of America before losing its lease. Century Cinemas also operates theaters in 11 western states and had proposed to build a 16-screen unit on the northeast side of Del Monte Center.

JoAnn Stores Inc. (330-656-2600) recently opened three JoAnn etc stores: a 42,000 sq.ft. store at Lake Brandon Plaza in Brandon, FL; a 43,000 sq.ft. store at Genessee Commons in Flint, MI and a 45,000 sq.ft. at Valley View Center in Ypsilanti, MI. The company plans to open 12 JoAnn etc locations in 2001. The company operates 58 stores in the large-format concept and over 1,000 traditional Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts stores.

Lettuce Entertain You (773-878-7340) will open a 6,000 sq.ft. restaurant at the City Park II development in Lincolnshire, IL. The mixed-use project is located at the intersection of Milwaukee and Aptakisic Streets and is tenanted by the Chart House and Red Robin restaurants.

Rent-A-Center (972-801-1200) plans a 10% increase in its store base during 2001. The 2,184-unit chain opened 27 stores and has acquired seven stores in the first four months of 2001. The rent-to-own appliance retailer trades as Rent-A-Center and Colortyme, Inc.

Aaron Rents, Inc. (404-231-0011) opened 20 stores in former Heilig-Meyers locations across the eastern states. The company operates 575 locations in 42 states nationwide.

Supervalu, Inc. (952-828-4000) plans to open 10 to 15 superstores and 100 to 120 limited assortment stores in fiscal 2002. The company operates 1,200 locations nationwide under the banners Cub Foods, Shop ‘n Save, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Metro, Biggs and Sav-A-Lot.

Garden Fresh Restaurant Corporation (954-229-7022) plans to open nine locations in fiscal 2001 and five units in fiscal 2002. The company operates 90 salad buffet restaurants under the names Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes in CA, FL, AZ, CO, GA, IL, KS, MO, NV, NM, NC, OR, TX, UT and WA.

Price Chopper Supermarkets (518-355-5000) will open a 56,000 sq.ft. store in a former Grand Union location at Town Squire Plaza in Albany, NY. The center is located at the intersection of Route 9W and Glenmont Road and is tenanted by Big Kmart, a liquor store and a hair salon. The company is building a new store in Bethlehem, NY and has acquired Grand Union locations in Kimberly Square in Loudonville and sites in Malta, Chatham and Guilderland. Price Chopper Supermarkets operates 100 stores in the northeast.

Goody’s Family Clothing (865-966-2000) plans to open 18 locations and remodel 13 stores in 2001. The company operates 317 stores nationwide.

Ross Stores (510-505-4400) plans to open 35 to 40 stores in 2001. The company opened 34 stores in 2000 and operates 409 locations under the name Ross Dress for Less.

IHOP Corporation (201-935-6800) plans to open 75 to 85 restaurants in 2001, of which 70 to 75 will be company-owned units. The company operates 968 units nationwide under the brand International House of Pancakes.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (724-779-5259) plans to open 86 stores across North America in fiscal 2001. The 554-unit chain operates men’s and women’s apparel stores nationwide and in Canada under the American Eagle Outfitters name.

99 Cents Only Stores (323-980-8145) plans to operate 15 units in the Las Vegas area in the next several years. The company operates 95 stores in CA, NV and AZ.

The Gap (949-719-0829) is considering opening a store in the Falls Village Shopping Center in Raleigh, NC. The strip center location would be the Triangle’s first Gap in a strip center. The company will also open a 8,600 sq.ft. store at the Coumbia Mall in Grand Forks, ND.

Lowes Foods (336-659-0180) will open as the anchor store at Wake Forest Shopping Center in Wake Forest, NC.

Dillard’s (501-376-5200) will relocate its Gulf View Square Mall store into the 144,000 sq.ft. former Montgomery Ward’s location at the opposite end of the center. The Simon Property Group-owned mall is anchored by Burdines, JC Penney and Sears. The department store chain will build a 200,000 sq.ft. store on the site of the former Ward’s at Southlake Plaza in Denver, CO. The company has a 135,000 sq.ft. store at the center but its future has not been determined. The company will also remodel a former Montgomery Ward’s location at Town West Square in Wichita, KS. The company operates a store in a larger space than the Ward’s location and will put in a second store at the center. The company will also open a 62,000 sq.ft. store at Randolph Mall in High Point, NC. The store is scheduled to open in the fall of 2002 in the 376,214 sq.ft. center.

Home Depot (770-433-8211) is considering opening a store on an eight-acre parcel at the intersection of Lexington Parkway and University Avenue in St. Paul, MN. The site was once home of the St. Paul Saints baseball team and is now a decaying strip center and a White Castle Restaurant. The City Council is considering the proposal. The home improvement retailer has a proposal in front of City Council for a store at 28th Street and Marcola Road in Springfield, OR. The company will open a 116,000 sq.ft. store on Route 101A in Merrimack, NH in the last week in August. The home improvement retailer will open a 112,860 sq.ft. store located at the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Grivin Road in Jacksonville, FL. The company will not open as planned at Lofton Square in Nassau County, FL. Home Depot was denied a rezoning request to open a store at the intersection of 31st and Iowa Streets in Lawrence, KS.

McDonald’s (312-751-5502) opened its newest concept to the United States, McCafe, on North Wabash Avenue in Chicago, IL. The cafe offers a selection of high-end cakes and pastries along with coffee, tea and smoothies.

California Pizza Kitchen (214-750-7124) opened restaurants in Creve Coeur, MO and Santa Clara, CA. The company has three locations under construction and plans to open 14 total locations in 2001. The company operates 115 units nationwide.

Champps Entertainment, Inc. (303-804-1333) plans to open seven locations in 2001. The company has units under construction in the Philadelphia, PA; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; Indianapolis, IN; Columbia, MD and Detroit, MI. The company operates 38 restaurants under the Champps Americana name.

Pier 1 Imports (817-878-8000) will open 85 stores in 2001 and plans to add 90 locations in 2002. The company operates 826 Pier 1 stores and 21 Cargo Furniture locations in North America.

Apple Computer Inc. (408-996-1010) finally realized its entry into the retail world by opening a store at Tysons Corner in McLean, VA. The company has confirmed plans to open a store in downtown Palo Alto, CA. The company is rumored to have three sites in Pittsburgh, PA and two locations in Manhattan already committed for Apple stores. The company is also thought to be looking in Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo, NY; Littleton, CO; Savannah, GA and Glendale, CA. Estimates have put Apples’ plan at around 100 locations in the next five years.

Ingles Markets (828-669-2941) plans to open two new stores and four replacement stores in 2001. The company operates 207 supermarkets in AL, GA, NC, SC, TN and VA.

Osco Drugs (708-786-3087) will open a 14,000 sq.ft. store adjacent to its current store on South Providence Road in Columbia, MO. The company’s posturing is in response to a 15,100 sq.ft. Walgreen’s store that is being built at the intersection of South Providence Road and Broadway.

Beall’s (941-747-2355) opened two stores in the Riverside, CA market and plans three more within the next three to six months. The company opened units on East Florida Avenue in Hemet, CA and on Barton Road in Loma Linda, CA. The discount retailer is also looking to put stores in Moreho Valley, Yucaipa and Desert Hot Springs, CA. The company trades as Beall’s and Burke’s Outlet at 246 locations.

Best Buy (952-947-2000) will delay opening a store at the former Alaska Marketplace location at Diamond Center Mall in Anchorage, AK. The opening is delayed because the state’s attorney general’s office is demanding the site be used as a supermarket.

Everything But Water (407-351-4069) will open a 1,750 sq.ft. store at Plaza Las Americas Mall in Puerto Rico. The unit will be the swimwear retailer’s 38th.

Guitar Center (818-735-8800) will open large format stores in West Palm Beach, FL and Monroeville, PA. The company will also open a smaller format store in Boise, ID. The music retailer plans four total larger format stores and three smaller format stores to open in 2001. The company operates 89 locations nationwide.

Bombay Company (817-870-1847) plans to open 30 to 35 stores, including eight to 10 outlets in 2001. The company will also convert 15 to 20 stores into its larger format. The company operates 408 locations across North America.

Michaels Stores, Inc. (972-409-1300) plans to open 75 Michael’s Arts & Crafts stores per year for the forseeable future. The company is also planning to open 20 Aaron’s Brothers locations in 2001. The concept, selling picture frames and services, may be rolled out nationally opening 25 to 75 stores annually for the next three fiscal years. The company operates 628 Michaels locations nationwide and 119 Aarons Brother’s stores primarily on the west coast.

Steve Madden, Ltd. (718-446-1800) plans to open 10 Steve Madden Shoes stores in 2001. The company operates 65 shoe stores.

YouthStream Media Networks (212-622-7300) plans to open eight Beyond the Wall stores before the end of fiscal 2001. The company plans 30 openings in fiscal 2002 and currently operates 20 stores specializing in wall decorations. The company locates near college campuses.

Chock Full o’ Nuts (631-271-1232) will open an 800 sq.ft. double drive-thru unit on Jericho Turnpike in Centereach, NY. The company will be opening kiosks and freestanding locations in NJ, NY and CT. The coffee retailer operates 75 stores in the northeastern states.

L.L. Bean (207-865-4100) opened its second store outside ME at the Mall in Columbia in Columbia, MD. The company’s other store is at Tysons Corner Center in McLean, VA.

Nature’s Table Cafe (816-531-8898) opened at the Westwood Complex in Orlando, FL. The company plans to open 11 units in 2001. The soup-and-sandwich chain operates 50 locations throughout the southeastern states.

Mens Wearhouse, Inc. (510-657-9821) plans to open 25 Men’s Wearhouse locations and 15 K&G Men’s Center stores in 2001. The men’s apparel retailer operates 538 stores nationwide and an additional 113 units in Canada.

Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (952-930-9000) opened a 31,000 sq.ft. ApplianceSmart superstore in Columbus Square in Columbus, OH. The company operates eight stores in OH, MN and CA.

Whole Foods Market (410-308-0800) will open locations in New Orleans, LA and Framingham, MA. The company has 21 units in development and operates 122 supermarkets in 22 states and DC.

The Wet Seal, Inc. (949-699-4039) will open 30 stores in fiscal 2001. The specialty apparel retailer operates 564 stores under the brands Contempo Casuals, Arden B. and The Wet Seal.

Steak n Shake (317-633-4100) will open 20 to 30 restaurants this year. The chain operates 377 units in 17 states.

Stein Mart, Inc. (904-598-7616 eastern US, 210-525-0131 western US) will open 25 to 30 stores by the end of the year. The 226-unit department store chain operates in 17 states.

Walgreens (847-940-2500) will open a store at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Gypsy Lane in Youngstown, OH. The site is across from a Rite Aid store. The site is currently a Fortune Garden restaurant. The company operates 3,100 stores nationwide and opened over 400 stores last year.

Santa Barabara Restaurant Group, Inc. (805-563-3644) trading as La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills has signed a franchising agreement with Jain Enterprises, Inc. for 10 restaurants to open over the next five years in AZ. The units will be located in west Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Glendale, Goodyear and Sun City. The company also acquired two California Fresh restaurants that it converted to its La Salsa concept. The sites in Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Santa Margarita, CA opened last month. The company has signed six leases in southern CA for sites to open in 2001 and is in negotiation for sites to open during 2002. Santa Barbara Restaurant Group operates 94 La Salsa locations, 40 Green Burrito units and 216 dual-concept restaurants.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. (410-309-9450) will open up to 30 stores during 2001 as part of the company’s 100-unit expansion plan scheduled to be completed in 2003. The company operates 110 locations nationwide.

Chico FAS, Inc. (941-277-6200) opened a 2,200 sq.ft. store at Mayfair in Milwaukee, WI. The women’s apparel retailer plans to open 55 stores in 2001 and operates 255 locations in 42 states.

Shoe Carnival, Inc. (812-867-4105) expects to open 15 to 16 stores in fiscal 2001. The company operates 158 locations in the southern and midstates.

Pep Boys, Inc. (215-430-9240) will open two superstores in fiscal 2001. The automotive retailer operates over 600 stores nationwide.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc. (602-957-8986) will open 14 P.F. Chang’s China Bistro locations and four quick-service Pei Wei Asian Diner restaurants in 2001. The full-service restaurants will be opened in cities across the country, including seven new markets for the concept. The diner concept will open in the Phoenix, AZ and Dallas, TX markets.

Total Entertainment Restaurant Corporation (316-634-0505) plans to open up to seven restaurants in 2001 and between seven and 10 units in 2002. The company operates 38 restaurants under the names Fox and Hound English Grill & Pub, Bailey’s Sports Grille and Bailey’s Pub & Grille. The existing units are located in AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MO, NE, NC, OH, PA, TN and TX.

Goldblatt’s (773-254-0454) may open two stores in the Chicago, IL market. The company is close to signing leases for the former Montgomery Ward’s space at Chicago Ridge Mall and acquiring a site at the intersection of 22nd Street and California Avenue. The company plans two more openings by the end of 2002 for a total of five stores. The company currently operates one location on South Ashland Avenue. The company’s former parent, JG Industries, sold seven of Goldblatt’s eight sites to Ames Department Stores, Inc. in 2000.

Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc. (330-342-6600) plans to open 25 stores annually by 2003. The convenience store chain will close or sell 200 Dairy Mart stores over the next year to finance the new stores. The convenience store chain operates 547 stores in seven states in the midstates and southeast.

Designs, Inc. (781-444-7222) plans to open up to five Levi’s Outlet by Designs stores in fiscal 2002. The company will also relocate up to 11 of the units. The company operates 102 units nationwide.