CHAPEL HILL

New York City -- Family Dollar hasn’t faced much community opposition during an ambitious decade-long expansion program that has left the company with roughly 7,000 stores in 45 states. However, there is a first time for everything and residents in the North Carolina community of Carrboro are pushing back against the retailer’s efforts to open a new store. According to a report in The Carrboro Citizen, which serves the community near Chapel Hill, residents are concerned about traffic, noise and safety -- and felt disrespected by a developer they said didn’t listen to their concerns. Those same types of

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (BRAIN)—Performance Bicycle has appointed Mark Leydecker senior vice president of merchandising. Leydecker, who served in various capacities with the brand from 1995 to 2005, will be responsible for all brand merchandising activities, leading a team focused on development and innovation to continue the company’s rapid growth and commitment to quality service. “We are excited to have Mark back with Performance Bicycle in a senior leadership role,” said David Pruitt, CEO of Performance Bicycle. “Mark’s unparalleled expertise in merchandising management and strategic point of view on the brand will be of great benefit to our company.” Leydecker

Performance Bicycle CEO Jim Thompson and Chief Marketing Officer Cindy Marshall have exited the company, according to sources close to the matter. Before joining Performance, Thompson was president and CEO of Golfsmith International, a multichannel retailer of golf and tennis products.

Performance Bicycle, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based Performance Inc., will open six new retail stores in four states nationwide. The new stores are slated to open in major markets, including Sacramento and Berkeley, Calif.; Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin, Texas; Atlanta; and the company's first-ever expansion into Idaho, with a new store set for Boise. The grand openings are all set to occur simultaneously on April 8—to coincide with the spring 2011 cycling season. Currently, the company operates more than 90 stores nationwide. SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | MOST POPULAR | RSS | REPRINTS DDI's

CHAPEL HILL, NC (BRAIN)—Performance Bicycle has appointed retail veteran Tom Tolworthy as president and chief operating officer. Tolworthy joins the nation’s largest specialty bike retailer, including more than 90 stores nationwide, its catalog and Web site, according to a press release. Tolworthy comes to Performance at a time when the retailer is growing its nationwide footprint and the Performance brand as a trusted destination for mainstream and avid cyclists alike. Over a three decade career in retail management, Tolworthy has led the growth and expansion of some of the best known retail brands in the country. The former CEO