Pamida, Inc. (402-339-2400) is planning to open, remodel or expand 13 Pamida stores by the end of next year. During June, the company opened its first new store in seven years at a site in Seneca, KS. Typical stores occupy between 15,000 sq.ft. and 35,000 sq.ft., but some are as small as 8,000 sq.ft. or as large as 60,000 sq.ft. The company operates more than 200 locations.

Shopko (920-429-2211) is planning to open its first new store in six years at a site in Suamico, WI and has plans to open several more locations during the coming years. The Suamico opening is planned for 2008. The 80,000 sq.ft. store is being built under a new prototype and will include a pharmacy and optical center, as well as a health services department. The company currently operates 132 stores and three Shopko Express Rx stores, the company’s neighborhood drugstore format.

Chico’s FAS, Inc. (239-277-6200) is planning to open 130 to 140 stores during this fiscal year, including between 58 and 62 during the third quarter. During the second quarter, the company opened 17 stores, closed two stores and expanded or relocated 15 stores. The company operates 965 women’s specialty stores in 48 states, Washington, DC, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico under the trades names Chico’s, White House | Black Market and Soma Intimates.

Menard, Inc. (715-876-5911) is relocating a store in Columbus, NE from Westgate Center to The Village Centre, located at the intersection of Highway 30 and East 1^st Avenue. The 162,000 sq.ft. store will be a Menards Mega Store and will include a 26,000 sq.ft. detached warehouse. Opening is slated for July 2008.

Gordmans, Inc. (402-691-4000) is planning to open a 50,000 sq.ft. store at Coral North, located at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 965 in Coralville, IA. Opening is slated for April 2008. The store will be its ninth location in IA, including two stores in Des Moines and locations in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo and West Des Moines. The stores offer name-brand clothing for
all ages, accessories, footwear, gifts,
designer fragrances, fashion jewelry, accent furniture and home fashions with price points that are 60% lower than department and specialty stores. The company currently operates 63 stores in 15 states. Cotenants at Coral North include Bed Bath & Beyond, Golf USA, Buffalo Wild Wings and a proposed Texas Roadhouse.

Kirkland’s, Inc. (731-668-2444) is planning to open 30 to 35 stores by the end of this year and to close 40 to 45 locations, including 13 openings and one closing during the third quarter of this year. During the second quarter, the company opened eight stores and closed eight stores. The stores offer home décor items, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products, as well as gifts and seasonal merchandise. The company currently operates 350 stores in 37 states.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. (512-477-4455) is planning to expand a Whole Foods Market store in Boulder, CO on Pearl Street. The expansion plans call for the organic supermarket to occupy space formerly tenanted by Barnes & Noble. The larger store will have a GLA of 73,000 sq.ft. with an opening slated for 2010. Also in Boulder, the company plans to renovate a 21,500 sq.ft. Alfalfa’s Market location on Broadway Street and Arapahoe Avenue. In addition, an 18,500 sq.ft. Wild Oats Market grocery store located on Baseline Road will be converted to an experimental Whole Foods concept, called Whole Foods Market Express. The convenience concept will offer a value-oriented product mix and grab-and-go offerings. Nearby draws include the University of Colorado. Another Wild Oats Market location, occupying 32,500 sq.ft., will undergo renovations in Superior, CO to be converted to a Whole Foods Market.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (253-395-3780) is planning to open REI stores in Schaumburg and Lincoln Park, IL. The 26,000 sq.ft. Schaumburg store will be a renovation of a former Tower Records in Woodfield Commons and is slated to open during November. The store will also feature a bike shop and seasonal rentals.

Gottschalks, Inc. (559-434-4800) is planning to open three stores annually beginning next year in secondary markets. A 58,000 sq.ft. store is planned for Elk Grove, CA with a planned opening of this November. Openings are also planned for additional sites in CA and OR. The company has identified 20 potential locations and the new stores will be formatted under its lifestyle center concept, which features an updated merchandise assortment focused on soft-lines. Also, the company will be expanding its store-remodeling program to include three major remodels and two minor remodels annually beginning next year. The company currently operates 59 department stores and four specialty apparel stores throughout AK, CA, ID, NV, OR and WA.

DSW, Inc. (614-237-7100) is planning to open at least 35 shoe stores this year, an increase of original estimates of 30 openings. This month, the company is opening the following nine locations: on California Street in Omaha, NE; on West Dekalb Pike in King of Prussia, PA; on Colony Place in Plymouth, MA; on Northeast Cascades Parkway in Portland, OR; on Northwest 12^th Street in Miami, FL; on Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila, WA; on Park Avenue in Tustin, CA; on Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville, GA and on Summit Plaza Drive in Louisville, KY. The company currently operates 237 stores nationwide.

Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza, Inc. (425-918-1900) recently opened a restaurant in Surprise, AZ at the Mountain Side Fitness Shopping Center on West Bell Road as part of the company’s plans to double its amount of units in operation this year. Openings are planned for CO, FL, NJ, TN and TX. The Surprise location will be the fourth Garlic Jim’s store in AZ. The company currently operates 43 units and 107 franchised locations throughout AZ, CA, OR, PA and WA.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (515-965-6100) plans to acquire 50 stores and build 10 new locations by the end of this fiscal year. During the first quarter, the company acquired two stores. The company owns and operates more than 1,390 convenience stores throughout the Midwest, including IA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD and WI. The stores offer self-service gasoline facilities, made-from-scratch pizza and donuts, sandwiches, hot and cold beverages and grocery items.

Valero Energy (210-345-2000) is planning to open 100 Corner Store locations during the next five years. The company expects to open 20 stores next year, beginning in San Antonio, TX, which will be part of its initial focus along with Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, TX and Tucson and Phoenix, AZ. Additional openings are planned for Albuquerque, NM, as well as El Paso, and southern and central, TX. The stores will mostly average 5,500 sq.ft. in size and be situated on two-acre lots. This is an increase from previous store sizes of 3,500 sq.ft. to 4,500 sq.ft., though some new locations will be smaller formats of 4,000 sq.ft. Most store space will be devoted to food service, particularly the company’s Javalero coffee, fountain drinks, sandwiches and hot food offerings. The stores will also feature 10 to 12 gasoline pumps, an increase from the eight or more in recently opened stores.