Payless Shoesource is closing two Fort Worth stores within the next two months as part of previously disclosed plans to shut down 475 Payless and Stride Rite shops over the next three years.
Payless is closing its Shops of Hulen store at 5816 South Hulen St. and Hawks Creek Center store at 568 Alta Mere Drive, said Stephanie Waugh, a spokeswoman."Customers of these closing stores will receive coupons to the two nearest stores," at Hulen and Ridgmar malls, she said. Five Payless stores in the area will remain operating, she said in a written statement.Payless is closing 350 stores by the end of January, including 300 Payless stores and 50 Stride Rite stores. But Waugh said the company isn't elaborating beyond that on when any specific stores are closing."These affected stores are underperforming and low-volume stores," Waugh said. "A comprehensive analysis was conducted to determine which stores to close with a goal to optimize the profitability of markets by removing many low sales-volume stores, as well as those that cannot support the assortments and staffing that the company believes its stores should offer."She said Payless is running a targeted direct-mail campaign to redirect shoppers to other nearby stores.Dallas Fed surveyActivity in Texas' service sector increased in November, with measures reflecting higher revenue, "modest hiring" and an increase in November retail sales, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says.The Dallas Fed conducts the survey monthly to obtain a timely assessment of activity in the state's service sector, which represents 59 percent of the economy and employs nearly 7 million.The revenue index "rose sharply" to 14 from 4.7, with 31 percent of respondents saying revenue increased from October, the Fed said. Positive readings in the survey generally indicate expansion of service sector activity, while readings below zero generally indicate contraction."Labor market indicators reflect modest hiring and slightly longer workweeks," the Dallas Fed said. The employment index had its best reading in seven months, although "the great majority of respondents noted no change in employment."Perceptions of general business conditions improved markedly in November, with the general business activity index showing its first positive reading in seven months, the Fed said.The Texas Retail Outlook Survey portion of the index, which uses information from respondents in the retail and wholesale sectors, showed retail sales increased in November, according to business executives responding to the retail portion of the survey. The volatile sales index rose to 12.8 from 9.2, for four consecutive months of sales increases."Inventories rose sharply," the Fed said. And "indexes of future retail sector activity remained in solid positive territory in November."New cellular storeCellular Sales, the nation's largest Verizon premium wireless retailer, has opened its newest store at 4380 Green Oaks Blvd. in Arlington.Cellular Sales, based in Knoxville, Tenn., has 52 stores in Texas and nearly 500 stores across the U.S."Our new store in the Arlington area is an example of our success in fulfilling our customers' needs," said Jeff Bowers, regional director of Cellular Sales.The new Arlington store created five sales consultant positions.Home loan eventBank of America is hosting a free, three-day event where customers can meet face-to-face with home retention specialists to review options for home loan modifications, including the review of loan modification files already in progress, or other alternatives to foreclosure.The event will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd.Bank of America customers can register to participate by going online to www.bankofamerica.com/homeownerevent or calling toll-free at 855-201-7426. Appointments are available from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. daily.Over the course of their time on site, about two to three hours, customers will review their file and status with a home retention specialist and determine which options may be available for them. A full list of documentation needed is available online at www.bankofamerica.com/homeownerevent.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comScott Nishimura, 817-390-7808snishimura@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
