Content about Geography of Texas

Houston — Sprouts Farmers Market, an independent natural foods grocery store chain, opened its first Houston-area store today.

The 25,300-sq.-ft. store opened at the southwest corner of Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Peek Road in Katy, Texas. The store will sell farm-fresh produce and thousands of natural, organic and mainstream food items at an affordable price point.

HOUSTON — Stage Stores is consolidating its South Hill, Virginia regional operations into its Houston, Texas corporate headquarters, in an effort to increase efficiency, create synergies, reduce expenses and enhance growth.

DALLAS — Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are joining together to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with two large construction projects that will bring together Lowe’s Heroes, community organizations, schools and local VIPS to celebrate Hispanic heritage while building strong foundations for the future in partnership with Dallas and Houston families. The project includes building two new homes and completing critical repairs on three existing homes in partnership with low-income families.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Kroger has opened a Signature store in the Fort Worth, Texas, market.

The 100,000-sq.-ft. store, which includes a fuel center, places more emphasis on an interactive customer experience and offers more natural and organic foods, chef-prepared meal solutions and ethnic and gourmet food choices. Along with the fuel center, the new store features a pharmacy and offers a vast wine and beer selection. Kroger currently has 30 Signature stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack Corp. said Thursday that it has named William "Bill" Nebes III as senior VP, overseeing the company's operations in Mexico.

Nebes will report to Jim Gooch, president and CEO.

Nebes has served as VP Mexico operations for RadioShack since February 2009, shortly after RadioShack acquired full ownership of the Mexico business in December 2008.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney announced that Thomas Engibous will become chairman of its board of directors on Jan. 28.  Engibous was named to the board in 1999 and has served in presiding director and lead independent director roles since 2008.  He will assume the chairman's role from Myron Ullman, III, JCPenney's former chief executive officer, who will step down as executive chairman.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has announced that Office Depot stores in Plano, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tallahassee, Fla. won the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains in the 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition. The Plano and Raleigh stores were also the only retailers in the overall top ten list, according to the company.

NEW YORK — Mike Boylson, formerly EVP and CMO of JCPenney, has traded retailing for baseball. The 32-year JCPenney veteran, who officially stepped down from the company on July 1, and a friend are opening a franchise of D-Bat, a baseball and softball training academy, Advertising Age reported. The facility is due to open this fall.

PLANO, Texas  -- JCPenney reported income from continuing operations of $1.09 per share for the quarter ended Jan. 29. Comparable-store sales for the quarter grew 4.5%.

PLANO, Texas - JCPenney announced that it will opens its doors at 7 a.m. on Dec. 26 for its biggest After Christmas Sale ever. Customers visiting JCPenney the day after Christmas can find extended store hours, free shipping offers on jcp.com and over 100 “Doorbuster” specials from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., highlighted in JCPenney’s expanded 48-page sales circular, the company reported.