Krispy Kreme hiring 60 for Charlotte-area expansion

Winston-Salem based Krispy Kreme is hiring 60 people for its new Indian Land doughnut shop and production facility, which is slated to open in mid-May.

The company said it is also planning for new stores in the University area, south Charlotte and Rock Hill. "The new Indian Land Shop is a part of a long-term growth strategy for the Fort Mill, South Carolina and Charlotte Metro area," said senior vice president Cindy Bay, in an email.

The Indian Land shop will be on Highway 521, just over the state line in South Carolina. An exact opening date hasn't been set. People can apply for positions including full- and part-time team members, shift supervisors and production specialist positions at www.sweetplacetowork.com.


At 2,500 square feet, the Indian Land store will have a drive-thru and be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. There are about 670 Krispy Kreme stores worldwide.

The company encountered a rough patch after going public in 2000, with years of losses and an accounting scandal, and had to shutter many stores. The last Krispy Kreme location inside Charlotte city limits closed in 2008, at Woodlawn Road near I-77.

The company still has strong ties to the region, however, and a loyal fan base. Interesting factoid: In 1994, according to an old Observer article, a Krispy Kreme store closing at Hawthorne and Independence Boulevard drew more than 760 customers who lined up for a last box of fresh doughnuts. The reason the store was closing? That stretch of Independence was being widened into a freeway.


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New beer shop opening in NoDa

Salud Beer Shop is holding its grand opening today (Thursday, March 15) in NoDa, with free tacos and six craft beers on tap.

The store carries hundreds of different beers, which you can enjoy on-premise or take home. Salud can also handle keg orders with a few days notice.

"It's a place to hang out, talk beer and relax. So if great beer is your druthers, this bottleshop was built for you," Salud's website says.

You can read a bit more about the store and see some pictures on Charlotte Restaurant Traffic here. And you just might find me at Salud sometime in the very near future as well.


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Benjamin Bear, new boutique, open on South Blvd.

There's a new boutique open on South Boulevard, with the interesting name The Benjamin Bear.

The store is open Wednesday through Sunday, and stocks items at prices mostly between $30 and $200, the owners say.

“We are proud to offer something new and fresh to community with a distinctive new venue to explore with the latest in contemporary retail,” said owner Patrick Hill, in an email. The shop carries clothing for men and women.

Brands carried by The Benjamin Bear include Suzabelle, Supremebeing, Skargon and False. The shop plans to host monthly events including art shows and design premiers.


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Francesca's Collections open at Carolina Place mall

Women's boutique Francesca's Collections has opened its fourth store in the Charlotte area, at Carolina Place mall in Pineville.

The store is one of five new retailers that have either opened or will open soon at Carolina Place. Francesca's Collections carries clothes, accessories, gifts, jewelry and home goods. The new store is on the mall's lower level, near the center court.

Francesca's Collections also has stores at SouthPark mall, Blakeney Center, and Birkdale in Huntersville.

The Grooming Lounge also recently opened at Carolina Place. Teavana is opening later this month, and Nestle Toll House Cafe and Planet Smoothie are opening in the second quarter.

A short hiatus

I'll be off work this week, and I won't be updating this blog until Wednesday, March 14. During the interlude, please email me any retail news, store openings or closings, questions, thoughts or ideas for stories, and I'll get back to you when I'm back. If you have a more pressing need, you can email my boss, John Arwood. See you soon,
Ely

Sales slide continues at Cato

Charlotte-based women's apparel retailer Cato is still struggling with falling sales at stores open a year or more, as the company reported they fell 5 percent last month.

Sales at stores open for a year or more are considered a key indicator of a retailer's health, because they exclude the impact of store openings or closing and give a more accurate comparison of performance. Same-store sales were down 5 percent in February compared to February 2011, Cato said Thursday. 
February was the eighth straight month of declining same-store sales for Cato.

Overall sales were down 3 percent in February, at $83.9 million.

"February sales were slightly weaker than our recent trend reflecting the continuing difficult economic environment and, to a lesser extent, the impact of tax refund delays," said CEO John Cato, in a statement.

Cato operates nearly 1,300 stores in 31 states, including its namesake Cato stores, Versona accessory stores and It's Fashion stores. The chain had revenue of $197 million in the third quarter, its most recently reported, and profits of $6.1 million.

Drive-thru grocery opening March 15

Swiss Farms will open at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, at 1431 Sardis Road. The location will be the Pennsylvania-based company's first store in Charlotte.

A grand opening is planned for Saturday, with games and prizes. You can read more about the store in this earlier blog post.