• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, August 2, 2010

For stores, hot = value, at least according to new "Hot 100 Retailers" just released by the National Retail Federation. As consumers hunted harder for bargains, chains like Syms, which came in #1, grew the fastest, as did those offering online convenience, including Amazon (#6) and Netflix (#7.)

According to the annual ranking, the recession opened the door for the speedy growth of bargain-based chains—even those that weren't on many shoppers' radar before the downturn. The ranking is published in the NRF's STORES Magazine this month, and is based on the largest percentage increases in domestic sales among private and public companies with more than $300 million in sales.

(Of course, sales increases don't always translate to profits, and it's worth noting that both its #1 and #2 choice actually lost money last year, with Syms, which recently acquired Filene's Basement, narrowing those losses in its most recent quarter. But while Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the fledgling West Coast grocery chain, claimed the second spot based on a 55% increase in year-over-year sales, it lost some $262.4 million last year for Tesco, its British owner, last year, sparking a minor revolt among peeved investors.)