Personnel Updates

• Amazon.com Inc. has appointed Maria Renz to the new role of VP Delivery Experience.

• Toys “R” Us Inc. announced it has laid off approximately 250 employees at its headquarters.

Financial Focus

• RadioShack Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, its second filing in two years.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Walmart Stores Inc. announced it has acquired Moosejaw Mountaineering, an outdoor retailer that operates 10 locations.

Industry Insight

• Amazon.com Inc. plans to open Amazon Books stores in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, New Jersey and two in Massachusetts. There will soon be 10 Amazon Books stores.

Real Estate

• Amazon.com Inc. has pre-leased an additional one million sq. ft. of space in Eastvale, CA. A new logistics center is expected to open there in 2018.

• Dollar General Corp. has entered its 44th state. The retailer opened its first store in North Dakota and plans to open six additional locations in the state through spring of this year. In addition, the retailer is preparing to break ground on a new 750,000-sq. ft. distribution center in Amsterdam, NY. Construction will begin in late spring, with a planned completion date in fall 2018.

• Family Christian Stores, the largest Christian bookstore chain in the country, is going out of business and plans to close all of its 240 stores.

• Hhgregg Inc. said it plans to close three distribution facilities and 88 stores. The closings are expected to be completed by mid-April.

• PETCO Animal Supplies Inc. will open 12 new stores during the month of March. The new stores include locations in Virginia, Arizona, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee, and Missouri. It will also relocate one store in Ohio.

• Staples Inc. announced it plans to close approximately 70 stores in North America in 2017.