The Sharper Image (415-445-1583) opened 20 stores this past fiscal year. The company plans to see a growth of an additional 10% to 15% during this year. The company currently operates 127 stores throughout the U.S.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (425-313-8100) is planning to open a store in Bellevue, WA later this year. The company plans on opening 26 to 28 wholesale clubs this fiscal year and 35 more during fiscal 2004.

Advance Auto Parts (540-362-4911) is planning to open a store at Jake Alexander Boulevard in Salisbury, NC. The company currently operates more than 2,400 stores nationwide. The site is situated on a land area of 0.864 acres. The company also is planning to open a store in Washington Township, PA early this Summer. Construction has begun on the site, which is across from a Hardees restaurant. Overall, the company plans on opening 110 stores nationwide.

DuClaw Brewing Co. (410-515-3222) is planning to open two restaurants this year, including a 9,500 sq.ft. restaurant at the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, MD. The seven-year old pub is close to signing a deal to lease up to 12,000 sq.ft. at an undisclosed location north of Baltimore City as part of a larger expansion that will include opening at least two restaurants a year, bottling its beers to sell in stores and possibly building its own brewery.

Firehouse Subs, Inc. (904-886-8300) is planning to open a store at Indian River Commons in Vero Beach, FL. The company currently operates 68 stores throughout six states and plans to have 150 operating locations by the end of this year, with the majority in FL. Most of the stores will be franchises, but the Vero Beach store will be one of the 15 stores opening that will be corporate-owned. Opening is slated during May or June.

Galyan’s Trading Co. (317-612-2000) is planning to open an 84,000 sq.ft. store at the Town Center, a 1.8 million sq.ft. center in Virginia Beach, VA. The upscale outdoor lifestyle retailer will occupy a building on the corner of Columbus Street, facing Independence Avenue. The company currently operates 32 stores throughout 14 states.

SuperValu, Inc. (952-828-4000) is planning to open 35 supermarkets throughout the Atlanta, GA area during the coming five years. The stores will operate under the names Save-A-Lot and Deal$, Nothing Over a Dollar. This year, at least nine area stores will open, including a Save-A-Lot in West End Mall and Deals stores in Buford, East Point and McDonough. The company currently operates 100 Deal$ stores.

iVideoNow, Inc. (772-231-7544) is planning to merge with 99 Cent Stuff, LLC, a FL-based discount retail chain. 99 Cent Stuff currently operates 10 big-box stores in FL. The stores offer products at 99 cents or below and the company completed last year with revenues in excess of $39 million. Its growth plan calls for the opening of up to 15 additional stores throughout FL during the coming two years.

Taco Bell Corp. (949-863-4500) is planning to renovate its store at 2810 North Jefferson Street in Huntington, IN to prepare for the addition of new menu items. The fast-food restaurant will expand its menu from tacos, burritos, nachos and other Mexican food to include hamburgers, french fries and other American items. Taco Bell will begin selling Backyard Burgers menu as the two companies are entering a joint venture, which includes opening several stores throughout northeast IN. Backyard Burgers operates more than 300 locations nationwide. The Huntington location will be one of three joint ventures in this area of IN, with others in Auburn and Fort Wayne.

Dylan’s Candy Bar (646-735-0078) is planning to open a 4,500 sq.ft. store at the Houston Galleria in Houston, TX. Opening is slated for the Summer. The shop will feature a cafe, collectible candy and even Pez dispensers ranging in price from $1.99 to $4,000. It also will sell items such as T-shirts, candy apparel and other clothing items bearing the Dylan’s logo, as well as candy spa products.

Saks Fifth Avenue (212-940-4048) is planning to open a 122,000 sq.ft. store at The Shops at Willow Bend located at the intersection of Dallas North Tollway and West Park Boulevard in Plano, TX. Opening is slated for September 2004.

Landry’s Seafood, Inc. (713-850-1010) is planning to open a Joe’s Crab Shack restaurant in Ventura, CA. The restaurant would take over a space formerly occupied by The Chart House. The company also operates the Rainforest Cafe, Charley’s Crab, Landry’s Seafood House, Willie G’s, The Crab House and 18 other chains.

Sam Ash Music Corp. (516-932-6400) is planning to open a 30,000 sq.ft. store at The Dolphin Mall in Miami, FL. The space formerly was occupied by Mars Music. The company also is planning to open an Orlando, FL store. The company currently operates 37 stores throughout the nation.

Subway (203-877-4281) is planning to open 19 shops throughout CA and NV by the end of the year. The restaurants span from Reno, NV to west Sacramento, CA and Sacramento to Chico. Ten stores are in Sacramento, with one each in Rocklin and Granite Bay.

First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (817-460-3947) is planning to open 40 to 50 stores this year. The company currently operates 190 stores throughout 11 states and Mexico.

Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. (608-323-3377) is planning to open an Ashley Furniture Homestore location at the intersection of Interstate 20 and South Cooper Street in Fort Worth, TX this Spring. The 50,000 sq.ft. space was formerly occupied by Service Merchandise. The company operates locations throughout the U.S., in Canada and in Japan. The company also plans to open an Arlington, TX location during June.

Fred’s, Inc. (901-362-3733) is planning to open a store in the Cloverleaf Plaza in Van Buren, AR. The 21,340 sq.ft. store formerly was occupied by Wal*Mart-owned Bud’s Discount store. Opening is slated for May. The company currently operates 385 stores and 206 pharmacies throughout 13 states in the southeast. The company has 69 stores in AR. Overall, Fred’s plans to open as many as 70 stores this year. Many of those will be in GA and SC.

Sara Lee Corp. (312-726-2600) is planning to open a lingerie store, the Inner Self, at The Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis, IN. The store caters to women ages 18 to 55 with an average dress size of 12 and offers intimate apparel, relaxwear and bath and beauty products. Inner Self opened its first store in April 2001. By Fall, the company expects to operate 10 U.S. stores.

Lowe’s Cos., Inc. (336-658-4000) is planning to open 130 home improvement stores during fiscal 2003. The company currently operates 854 stores throughout 44 states.