Store Expansion News: April update

Welcome to Store Expansion News, Chain Store Age’s monthly roundup of brick-and-mortar expansion plans across the retail industry.

Retailers big and small made headlines in April regarding store expansions and new formats. Here are the major stories as reported by CSA, starting with the most recent. 

• Chewy enters brick-and-mortar vet space The online pet supplies retailer debuted its Chewy Vet Care concept in Plantation, Fla., followed by a location in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch, Col. The veterinary practice concept offers routine wellness exams, urgent care, dental care, vaccinations, surgeries and more for dogs and cats.
• Toys”R”Us to expand in U.K. WHP Global has signed a long-term license agreement with WHSmith as the exclusive shop-in-shop partner for Toys”R”Us in the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the agreement, WHSmith will have the exclusive license for Toys”R”Us shop-in-shops in their High Street stores, including the opening of 30 new shops this summer.
• Foot Locker opens new store concept The athletic footwear giant’s “store of the future” format, which debuted at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J., features a streamlined, easier-to-shop layout, a more modern and distinctive environment, digital fixtures and other technological advances.
• Mango to grow U.S. footprint The Spanish fashion retailer is strengthening its presence on the East Coast with store openings planned for the Washington, D.C. and Boston areas. Mango, which currently has 24 U.S. locations, plans to open a total of nearly 30 stores here this year. 
• Paris Baguette to enter Mexico The French-inspired bakery cafe franchise, which operates over 160 locations in the U.S. and Canada with over 100 more in development, will soon launch in Mexico. The expected number of locations coming to Mexico will be determined after a master partner has been found.
• Little Caesars plans growth in seven states The Detroit-based pizza chain will open more than 30 new restaurants throughout San Diego, Memphis, Tampa, Raleigh, Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Antonio and Eugene, Ore. through new franchise agreements.
• Sky Zone moves towards 300 locations The indoor trampoline park chain will be opening five new locations, with sites in Oregon, Texas and three more in California, by the end of the year. The leases follow a slate of upcoming new parks including Boynton Beach, Fla., Mountlake Terrace, Wa. and Lincoln Park, Ill. locations.
• Aldi opens checkout-free store The discount grocer implemented a frictionless shopping solution at an existing store in Aurora, Ill. Shoppers can pay with either their credit or debit card, or with the Grabango app at the Grabango pay station near the exit. 
• Bloomingdales rolls out camp-themed pop-ups The department store retailer has opened a pop-up space called “Carousel: Camp Bloomingdale’s” in select locations. Bloomingdale’s will sell campsite items from outdoor gear and equipment brand Coleman via the pop-ups.
• JCPenney opens first new store in eight years The store at Willowbrook Mall is JCPenney’s first new opening in eight years, and located in a two-level, 120,000-sq.-ft. anchor space that formerly housed Lord & Taylor, which went dark about three years ago.
• Papa Johns to add 50 stores The pizza chain has announced plans to open 50 new restaurants by 2028 in partnership with franchisee Nadeem Bajwa and his company, The Bajco Group. The new agreement will expand the Papa Johns footprint in existing markets across the Midwest and in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida.
• Uniqlo to expand across U.S. The Japanese apparel giant will open 11 new stores across Texas and California in 2024 as part of the 20-plus new store openings planned for North America this year. The new locations will include Uniqlo’s first-ever stores in Texas as well as its first outposts in San Diego and Sacramento, Calif.
• Build-A-Bear to 50 new stores After opening 37 stores in 2023, Build-A-Bear plans to open at least 50 new stores by the end of the year globally, focusing on tourist destinations and malls.