Scott Novotny's nickname – Mr. Salty – was truly fitting. Every fall would find the owner of the Quality True Value Hardware Store in Madison, a business Novotny bought from his parents in 2006, bringing in loads of ice melt in preparation for the inevitable slick sidewalks and driveways that are part and parcel of Wisconsin winters. The 50-pound bags would be stacked in front of the store, lying in heaps along its sidewalk, and around the building's south side, into its small parking lot.

Tagged with: Madison retail

In an age when brick-and-mortar shops are closing left and right and online shopping is becoming ever more popular, why would one man decide to tear down an old factory and put up his own 100,000-square-foot store?

Tagged with: Appleton Internet retail tax increment finance district Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

The Bon-Ton Stores will become the latest casualty in a retreat from brick-and-mortar retail, after a savior failed to show up to a bankruptcy auction this week.

Tagged with: Boston Store retail

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Urban planners say Milwaukee needs first-floor retail space with new construction, but developers say the need isn’t there and the city should relax its requirements.

Tagged with: blog development Hot Topics retail Rohde

By Sean Ryan Cudahy can support only one big-box retail store, leaving planners debating whether such a project should be built on the city’s Iceport property or on land near the edge of town. Cudahy is discussing the potential development ...

Tagged with: Cobalt Partners Cudahy retail

By Paul Snyder The Gallina Cos. is asking Madison for a two-year extension to build an 81-acre subdivision on the city’s west side. Craig Enzenroth, president of Middleton-based Gallina, said the real estate market is too shaky to immediately move ...

Tagged with: housing Madison Madison Plan Commission market multifamily real estate retail Sanborn single family Sundquist

By Tali Arbel AP Business Writer New York (AP)— A gauge of the U.S. service sector returned to growth last month, aided by the holiday season’s retail sales. The expansion reflected a slowly improving economy — but it was too ...

Tagged with: Capital Economics Labor Department retail unemployment

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Holiday shoppers spent a little more this season, according to data released Monday, giving merchants some reason for cheer. The spending bounce means retailers managed to avoid a repeat of ...

Tagged with: retail sales shopping

The Associated Press A look at the decade that was and the decade to come, by industry: BANKING THE PAST DECADE: The nation’s big banks swaggered into the decade as owners of the world. They leave it humbled and, in ...

Tagged with: airlines energy health manufacturing real estate retail technology

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Last-minute shoppers — snowed in by last weekend’s East Cost storm or just waiting for the best deals — are coming out in force the day before Christmas. Stores are ...

Tagged with: General Growth Properties National Retail Federation retail shopping