Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. (503-232-8844) is planning to open a 95,000 sq.ft. Fred Meyer Marketplace store in Homer, AK. The company also is planning to open a Marketplace store in Palmer, AK. Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. currently operates nine stores in AK.

Kirkland’s, Inc. (731-668-2444) opened eight stores and closed six locations in the first quarter of 2003. The company expects to open 38 to 40 stores, while closing eight to 10 locations during fiscal 2003, representing a 12% net increase in the store base. The company currently operates 249 home decor stores throughout 30 states.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (813-283-7000) is planning to open a restaurant at 8199 U.S. Highway 19 North in Pinellas Park, FL. The company currently operates 780 locations throughout 28 states.

Kohl’s Corp. (262-703-7000) is planning to open stores throughout the Jacksonville, FL area. Next year, Kohl’s plans to open up to 100 stores, a combination of stores in new markets and additional stores in existing markets. The company currently operates 492 stores nationwide. The company opened 75 stores last year and opened in new markets, including Houston, TX; Boston, MA; Nashville, TN and Providence, RI. This Fall, the company is planning to open 10 stores in Phoenix, AZ, two in Tucson and one in Flagstaff, AZ, as well as three locations in Las Vegas, NV. While the average store size is about 86,500 sq.ft., Kohl’s has opened four 62,000 sq.ft. prototype stores as part of a smaller concept store.

Whitehall Jewelers, Inc. (312-762-9751) opened 16 stores and closed one location during the first quarter. The company also plans on opening five additional stores during the balance of fiscal 2003. The company currently operates 385 stores throughout 38 states in regional and super regional malls, primarily under the Whitehall Co. Jewelers, Lundstrom Jewelers and Marks Bros. Jewelers tradenames.

Sephora USA, LLC (415-977-4300) is leaving its three-level West Coast flagship store on Stockton Street in downtown San Francisco, CA for a single-level store near the intersection of Powell and Market streets. The company currently operates approximately 70 stores under the tradenames LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

The Char Grill, Inc. (262-432-3000) is planning to convert a restaurant in New Berlin, WI to the company’s casual dining concept this year. The company also is planning to open a restaurant in Grafton, WI. The restaurants feature charcoal or wood-grilled meats and pizzas and rotisserie chicken, while some restaurants also include a sports-theme bar. The Char Grill, Inc. operates Charcoal Grill & Rotisserie restaurants in southeastern WI, including locations in Racine, Franklin, Hales Corner, West Bend and Burlington.

Wal*Mart Stores, Inc. (650-837-5000) is planning to open a Wal*Mart Supercenter store on a land area of 35 acres at the intersection of West Riverside Boulevard and Owen Center Road in Rockford, IL. The company also is planning to open a store at the intersection of Illinois 173 and 251 in Rockford, as well as a store at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Genoa Road in Belvidere, IL. The company currently operates 4,700 stores nationwide, in Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Golfsmith International, Inc. (512-837-4810) is planning to open two superstores throughout the Los Angeles, CA area this Summer. The company recently opened a 15,000 sq.ft. store in Santa Ana, CA, as part of its national retail expansion plan. The opening of a 13,750 sq.ft. location in El Segundo, CA is set for this month. The company currently operates 28 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.