Grocer The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. said Tuesday it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a private company.

Big Lots’ fourth-quarter net income rose 4% to $114.7 million for the period ended Jan. 28, up from $110.1 million a year earlier.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., approved the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.’s plan to exit bankruptcy plan.

A report by the Seattle Times said that Eddie Bauer chief Neil Fiske, who joined the retailer in 2007 and led it through bankruptcy, will leave his post effective March 2.

United Retail Group Inc. announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection as it looks to sell itself to private-equity firm Versa Capital Management.

The judge in the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case on Tuesday approved a $750 million exit financing plan for the supermarket operator.

Family Dollar Stores said that it has named Paul White as executive VP, chief merchandising officer. He will report to Michael Bloom, president and COO.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. said Friday that it has secured a $490 million financing package from Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos., Mount Kellett Capital Management and investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs.

Syms Corp. and its Filene’s Basement subsidiary said that they have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will liquidate all stores and assets over the coming several months.

Filene’s Basement will close four Massachusetts stores around Christmas time this year, according to a Tuesday report by the Boston Globe.

The current economic climate has us all thinking more about retail expansion than perhaps over the last two to three years, but real estate disposition/portfolio optimization isn’t just on simmer. There’s still plenty of action in that arena, and Chain Store Age talked with Spence J. Mehl, senior VP of New York City-based RCS Real Estate Advisors, about the latest happenings.