Aaron Rent’s, Inc. (678-402-3000) is planning to open a store in the Carbondale-Murphysboro, IL market. The stores offer rental, sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances and accessories. The company operates over 1,300 locations nationwide and in Canada.

Bass Pro Shops (417-873-5000) is planning to open a 106,000 sq.ft. store during August 2008 at the proposed 746,740 sq.ft. Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley located at the intersection of Union Road and Highway 120 in Manteca, CA. The 92-acre project will consist of two phases with 1.2 million sq.ft. of retail, restaurants, hotels and offices. The company is also planning to open a 100,000 sq.ft. store in Buffalo, NY during the spring of 2009.

Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (312-923-0030) is planning to open a restaurant in Freedom Commons, located at the intersection of Interstate 88 and Freedom Boulevard in Naperville, IL, during 2008. The upscale steakhouse restaurants specialize in classic American fare, serving prime aged beef, fresh fish, lamb and chicken entrees. The restaurant will feature the Boardroom for private dining, as well as Bar 12-21, which can seat 36 customers and features plasma TVs and the Bar Bites menu. The company currently operates 74 locations nationwide and throughout Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; Hong Kong and Singapore.

Melt Gelato (949-707-0456) is planning to open 50 franchised locations during the year. The company is focusing on expansion throughout AZ, CA, FL, IL, MO, NV and WA and is looking to open locations in kiosks ranging from 150 sq.ft. to 450 sq.ft. in shopping centers in urban and suburban markets. Stores are planned for Milford and Waterbury, CT; Jersey City, NJ; King of Prussia and Willow Grove, PA; Braintree and Natick, MA and Massapequa, Middleton and West Nyack, NY. The company offers a variety of flavors of gelato and crepes.

Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc. (414-231-5000) is planning to open Roundy’s Supermarkets throughout the Chicago, IL metro area during the next three years. The company plans to open an 80,000 sq.ft., two-level store in Lincoln Park, which will feature a selection of natural and organic groceries, prepared foods, wine and pharmacy departments and a banking facility. The company currently operates 150 locations throughout IL, MN and WI under the trade names Copps Food Center, Pick ‘N Save and Rainbow Foods.

Foot Locker Retail, Inc. (212-720-3700) opened a 6,875 sq.ft. Foot Quarters at the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville, PA. The store sells athletic and casual footwear for the entire family and offers brands such as Asics, Kenneth Cole, New Balance, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren and Steve Madden. The 320,000 sq.ft. power center is cotenanted by DSW, LA Fitness, Marshalls and Old Navy. The company currently operates 4,000 locations throughout 20 countries under the trade names Foot Locker, Footaction, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports.

Stater Bros. Markets (909-783-5000) is planning to open a store at The Marketplace at Palm Desert, located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Washington Street in Palm Desert, CA, during September. The 44,000 sq.ft. full service supermarket will feature seafood, deli, produce, floral, meat and bakery departments in addition to a pharmacy. An additional store opening is planned for San Jacinto, CA. The company currently operates 162 locations throughout southern CA.

Zumiez (425-551-1500) is planning to open 50 stores during the year. The stores offer accessories, apparel and footwear along with skateboards and snowboards. The company currently operates 236 locations nationwide.

Mothers Work, Inc. (215-873-2200) is planning to open 17 to 20 stores during the year. The company specializes in maternity apparel, and currently operates 795 stores under the trade names Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity and Destination Maternity. The company also plans to open 120 leased department locations, primarily at Boscov’s and Gordmans. The company also distributes its Oh Baby! Motherhood collection to Kohl’s nationwide.

Steve & Barry’s (516-267-7359) currently operates 191 locations and plans to have 250 stores open by the end of 2007.

Coach, Inc. (212-594-1850) is planning to open 40 Coach locations during the year. The company offers a variety of fine accessories and gifts for men and women, including handbags, leather goods, footwear, watches, outerwear, scarves and jewelry. The company currently operates 244 locations nationwide and internationally throughout retail shops, select department stores and specialty shops.

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (865-379-5700) is planning to open five franchised Ruby Tuesday restaurants throughout southern WI during the year to be developed by RT Holdings of Southern Wisconsin, LLC. The chain of casual dining restaurants currently operates at 900 locations nationwide and internationally. The company is expanding with franchisees throughout the western region of the U.S. and internationally during the year.

Target (800-440-0680) is planning to open 30 to 35 supercenters during the year. The company currently operates approximately 1,500 stores in 47 states, including more than 175 SuperTarget stores. Target stores offer a photo processing center as well as a pharmacy and the supercenters offer bakery, deli, meat and produce departments.

Dish D’Lish (206-784-7840) recently opened a 1,500 sq.ft. store in Seattle, WA. The specialty food retail shop, specializing in a fresh foods to-go concept, offers salads, sandwiches, soups, baked goods, espresso drinks in addition to prepared food items such as appetizers, entrees, dips and cheeses. The company also offers a product line of spreads, bread dippers, chutneys, dressings and seasoning salts. The company plans to open additional locations in airports.

Whole Foods Market (512-477-4455) is planning to open 15 supermarkets throughout the Northeast during the year. Openings are scheduled throughout Darien and Glastonbury, CT; Dedham and Reading, MA; Portland, ME; Nashua, NH; Paramus and Union/Millburn, NJ; Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY; Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting and South Hills, PA and Cranston, RI. The company seeks sites of 40,000 sq.ft. to 75,000 sq.ft. in high traffic areas. The chain of natural and organic food stores currently operates 194 locations nationwide and internationally.

McCormick & Schmick’s (503-226-3440) is planning to open a second location in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The chain of upscale casual seafood restaurants currently operates 60 locations nationwide.

Zen Palate (212-254-3566) is planning to open a new restaurant concept, called Simply Zen, at the intersection of East 34^th Street and Third Avenue in New York, NY with plans to open an additional location in the New York Times building. The company is also planning to open a Zen Palate vegetarian restaurant in the city’s financial district as well as in southern CA and NJ.