Tommy Bahama (800-647-8688) recently opened its first Relax store concept in Naples, FL. The 2,000 sq.ft. store includes men’s Relax products and women’s swimwear, cover-ups and items from the company’s Spa collection, as well as towels, caps and beach bags.

Aeropostale, Inc. (646-485-5398) plans enter Canada, with 10 openings and a goal of having 80 to 90 units in operation throughout the new market. Also, the company plans to grow its 728-unit chain to 1,000 stores in operation nationwide.

Harris Teeter (704-845-3100) is opening two grocery stores in Washington, DC, one at the intersection of Kalorama Road and 17^th Street in the Adams Morgan section and one on Pennsylvania Avenue. Both locations are slated to open next year, with the Adams Morgan store opening during February and the Pennsylvania Avenue store opening during March.

Fastenal (507-454-5374) is planning to open 160 stores this year. The company currently operates 2,000 stores nationwide, as
well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe and China. The stores offer industrial and construction supplies.

J.C. Penney Corp., Inc. (972-431-1000) recently opened a 180,000 sq.ft. store at North Star Mall in San Antonio, TX as part of the company’s plans to open 250 stores through 2011. The San Antonio location is its fourth in the city, in addition to one JCPenney Home Furnishings Store. Other recent openings include a department store at Peninsula Town Center, located on Coliseum Drive in Hampton, VA. The store occupies 100,000 sq.ft. and features a 1,500 sq.ft. full-service Sephora beauty boutique. Also, the company opened two stores in the Oklahoma City, OK area, specifically in Moore at The Shops at Moore and in Midwest City at Town Center Plaza. The store in Moore is located on Interstate 35 South Service Road occupying 100,000 sq.ft. The Midwest City location is located on Southeast 29^th Street occupying 100,000 sq.ft. The company currently operates 1,040 department stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Ballard Designs (513-603-1000) recently opened its first retail unit at the International Plaza in Tampa, FL and has plans to open a second store during the fourth quarter in Jacksonville, FL. The European-inspired stores occupy 12,000 sq.ft. and are laid out in three distinct shops, including the Seasonal Shop, Office Shop and Design Center.

Aldi, Inc. (630-879-8100) is planning to open 100 stores annually, including six locations throughout IL, particularly in Blue Island, Calumet City, Dixmoor and Orland Park. The company most recently opened a store in Lockport, bringing its total count of stores in IL to 53. Nationally, the company operates 864 stores.

Haggen, Inc. (360-733-8720) is planning to open new grocery store/pharmacy locations next year. Most recently, the company remodeled a Top Food & Drug location in Snohomish, WA to now include a food court that can seat 100 people, an espresso stand, full-service bakery and community room. The company operates 32 Haggen and Top Food & Drug locations throughout OR and WA.

Hennes & Maurtiz, LP (212-564-9922) is planning to open a location this month at Ross Park Mall in Ross, PA, its fourth store in the Pittsburgh market. Nordstrom, which is slated to open next fall, and The Cheesecake Factory will also tenant the center. The company currently operates 100 H&M stores in the U.S., as well as 1,400 stores in 28 countries.

Starbucks Corp. (206-447-1575) is planning to expand throughout IN, with openings scheduled for Greenfield and Shelbyville. Most recently, the company opened a store at the intersection of 15^th Street and Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis, IN. The store is the company’s 175^th in the state.

Cold Stone Creamery (480-362-4800) is planning to open a location this month in Iowa City, IA on East Washington Street. The company currently operates another store in the area on 25^th Avenue in Coralville. Nationwide, the company operates 1,350 stores. The stores allow customers to choose their own add-in ingredients and put in with the different flavors and then mix on a granite slab.

C-Mart (410-538-6100) is planning to open discount stores in Las Vegas, NV; Miami, FL and New York, NY. The company operates two locations in Joppatowne and Landover, MD that sell clothes, accessories and furniture. The Landover store occupies 120,000 sq.ft. and was previously tenanted by Sam’s Club. The company was recently acquired by The Asset Store, an online liquidator.

Beall’s, Inc. (941-747-2355) is planning to open several Bealls department stores this year, including a location in Ft. Myers, FL this month. The company currently operates 79 stores throughout FL. Overall, Beall’s, Inc. operates 470 outlet stores.

Charlotte Russe Holdings, Inc. (858-587-1500) is planning to open 60 stores during fiscal year 2008, in addition to remodeling 20 locations. During the past year, the company opened 50 stores. The stores offer value-priced fashionable apparel for women in their teens and 20s.

IKEA (610-834-0180) is opening a store in Orlando, FL this fall, its 33^rd location in the U.S. Also, the company will be opening a store this fall in Sunrise, FL and a store in Tampa, FL during 2009. Additional openings are planned for Brooklyn, NY; Charlotte, NC; Somerville, MA and West Chester, OH. The company currently operates 255 stores in 35 countries.

GameStop (817-424-2000) plans to open 500 stores this year, including 200 overseas. The company operates 500 stores in Europe and 4,800 stores worldwide in 16 countries.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (970-259-0554) and The Grove, Inc. (800-54-GROVE) signed an agreement to open at least 10 Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores in airports nationwide. The Grove, Inc. operates 65 locations under the following trade-names: The Grove Natural Snacks, I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!, Swensen’s Ice Cream, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Smoothie King. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory operates 320 stores in 38 states, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

Wellington Franchise Systems (714-464-3030) plans to open 125 Sport Clips men’s hair salons by the end of the year and 150 during 2008. The company recently opened six locations in Orange County, CA. The company is planning to open a location in Tustin, CA at The District, located on Park Avenue next month. Recent openings include a store at The Arbor shopping center, anchored by Home Depot and located in Lake Forest, CA at the intersection of El Toro Road and Rockfield Boulevard, and a store at Cypress East Shopping Center, located in Cypress, CA on Valley View Street. The 1,200 sq.ft. salons contain sports memorabilia, a large-screen TV in the reception area and smaller TVs at every haircutting station.

Hart Stores, Inc. (450-661-4155) is planning to open three stores this fall, including a 30,000 sq.ft. location in North Bay Ontario and a 25,000 sq.ft. store in Fleurimont, Quebec, both slated to open this month, and a 23,000 sq.ft. location is slated to open during September in Tracadie, New Brunswick. Next spring, the company plans to open stores in the Ontario, Quebec and Maritimes markets.