Retail Store Openings and New Concept Trends

Retail Expansion Plans

 

ALDI

Grocer ALDI said it’s adding 120 new stores this year. Known for its unique shopping experience and low prices, ALDI will have more than 2,400 stores nationwide by the end of the year.

New store openings will span the continental U.S., including the rapidly growing Southeast region where ALDI recently opened its 26th regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley, AL, to help support new stores in the area. This year, ALDI will add stores in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, new markets for the grocer.

“While inflation is undoubtedly driving unprecedented demand for affordable groceries, we know that once customers experience the ALDI difference, they keep shopping with us, even when the economy improves,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI U.S. “Our growth is led by our customers, and they continue to want more ALDI locations coast-to-coast.”

This year’s planned expansion builds 2022, during which ALDI opened and remodeled 139 stores, welcomed approximately 9.4 million new customers, and drove double-digit growth year over-year, it said. The grocer is on track to continue that momentum this year, opening 35 stores in the first quarter alone and welcoming 5.3 million new customers to its stores as of April 2023.

 

Primark

International clothing retailer Primark will open its doors to three new stores this summer: Green Acres Mall in Long Island, NY, on June 22^nd, The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, NJ, on July 6^th and Crossgates Mall in Albany, NY, on July 20^th. Each of the three new stores will boast more than 33,000 square feet of retail selling space. 

These three openings will bring Primark to 428 stores globally, with 20 in the U.S. In preparation, Primark's Talent Acquisition team is searching for retail colleagues to fill full and part-time roles. All available roles can be viewed and applied for on the Primark Careers Site.

"The reception we've received as we've joined new communities in the U.S. has been overwhelmingly positive, with lines of new customers waiting to meet us, so our team is so excited about the lineup of new stores we have to open this Summer," said Kevin Tulip, president Primark U.S. "'Primania' is spreading from New York to New Jersey and beyond, and these three new stores will answer the demand we've had for our amazing fashion at amazing prices in new communities in both states."

Primark has been expanding rapidly across the US, with the goal to scale to 60 stores by 2026. The retailer recently announced plans to further expand into the southern U.S., with aims for Texas in the future.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose said it expects to more than double its retail footprint from the 51 permanent stores at the end of Q4 fiscal 2023 by the end of fiscal 2028 while continuing to grow its digital presence, both through omnichannel and online. In fiscal 2024, the retailer plans 16 new permanent store openings, concentrated in Mainland China, the USA and Japan, the vast majority of which it expects to be operational in the second half of the year.

“As it applies to our store network, we are laser focused on enhancing store performance and we are looking to digital to help support this goal by driving more traffic to the stores, helping our stores to better know and connect with their high value clients and optimizing our inventory allocations around the globe,” the retailer said in a press release.

Von Maur Department Store

Von Maur Department Store plans to open a 90,000-square-foot store at West Acres Mall in Fargo, N.D. Scheduled to open in spring 2025, this will be the first Von Maur location in North Dakota. Meanwhile, Dry Goods USA, a subsidiary of Von Maur Department Store, plans to open 11 additional locations in 2023, including the retailer’s first stores in Alabama, Arkansas, and New York.

Von Maur was founded in 1872 and currently operates 37 stores in 15 states. The Dry Goods expansion will bring its footprint to 81 locations – once opened – across the country.

"We look forward to opening the first Von Maur Department Store in North Dakota at such an exceptional location like West Acres Mall," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur. "Fargo is a growing, vibrant metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest and we are excited to be a part of the region’s development. We look forward to introducing area shoppers to our wide selection of brand name merchandise and signature Von Maur service and becoming the shopping destination of choice for years to come."

“We are excited by the success of Dry Goods as we continue to expand our footprint and introduce the brand to new fashion forward shoppers seeking the latest on-trend clothing and accessories,” said Melody Wright, chief operating officer of Von Maur, the parent company of Dry Goods. “Our ever-changing mix offers new, fresh takes that allow our shoppers to create their own individual look at a reasonable price. Whether customers need the perfect outfit for the weekend’s party or the coming summer festival season, Dry Goods has all the latest fashion trends.”

Construction of the Von Maur store will begin in Summer 2023, and will feature the company's signature residential ambiance, original artwork, an open floor plan, and music from the store's grand piano. It is expected that the store will eventually employ 125 associates – the majority of which will be full-time.

“The Dry Goods brand was created to bring our tradition of customer service to a new generation of younger, fashion-forward customers,” said Lindsay Caltagirone, vice president of stores for Dry Goods.

Retail Concept Trends

 

Lowe's

Home Improvement retailer Lowe's is broadening its footprint with a new one-stop shop concept in up to 300 additional Lowe's stores by year end.  The concept is designed to bring customers located in rural areas a wider offering of farm, ranch and outdoor products. The one-shop concept is rolling out among selected stores, primarily in the South, Midwest and Northeast, throughout the summer.

[See also: Tractor Supply’s Rob Mills On the Future of Data-Driven Loyalty]

In these rural Lowe's locations, customers can expect to find broader product offerings in categories such as pet, livestock, trailers, fencing, utility vehicles, and specialized hardware. The concept also brings new Carhartt apparel in select stores and the expansion of Wrangler in all rural stores. These merchandising moves are designed to meet the unique needs and preferences of rural homeowners.

"Our goal with this product expansion is to grow our relationship with the consumer who is already looking to Lowe's for their interiors solutions, but also has a need for top-of-the-line, best value products for outdoor, rural or farm living," said Bill Boltz, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising. "Given our rural store footprint and longstanding relationships in these communities, this expansion will simplify the shopping experience for these very valuable customers and help us continue to grow market share through our Total Home strategy."

Macy’s

Macy’s Backstage, Macy’s off-price store that offers shoppers the “thrill of the hunt,” is opening 10 new store-within-store locations throughout the country this spring. In 2022, Macy's Backstage expanded its presence to over 300 locations and Macy’s claims the addition of Backstage stores to existing locations has proved to be an effective strategy in driving foot traffic, as the excitement of "treasure hunting" that comes with off-price shopping is difficult to replicate online.

The new Macy's Backstage store-within-store locations span from 11,000 to 23,000 square feet, providing a convenient one-stop-shop experience for customers to browse a diverse range of products including young women’s, sportswear, men’s apparel, dresses, and luxury handbags. The store has implemented a customer-focused strategy aimed at attracting new shoppers by offering a curated selection of merchandise ordered in smaller quantities and more frequently, resulting in a rotating assortment for a fresh shopping experience every time.

Nordstrom

The newly unveiled Il Terrazzo by Nordstrom, an outdoor Aperol-inspired space, opened Memorial Day Weekend at the Nordstrom NYC Flagship store. The limited-time pop-up has taken over the Bistro Verde patio, being completely transformed into a summer spritz respite that will be open to shoppers through Labor Day

The expansive terrace – featuring 48 seats and additional lounge seating – is an urban Italian oasis in the heart of Manhattan, complete with a bocce ball court, vibrant and orange-colored décor, a living wall, and specialty cocktail and culinary offerings, including a dedicated spritz menu featuring the classic Aperol Spritz and more, as well as small bites such as Polenta fries, Crisp Calamari and Heirloom Tomatoes with Burrata, and Aperol sorbet from Il Laboratorio del Gelato.