As many retailers struggle during the pandemic and against online competition, Five Below Inc. has defied both challenges and has seen sales rise, new stores open and its share price climb back up to pre-pandemic levels. The Philadelphia-based discount retailer opened a record 63 new stores in the second quarter and by the end of the year expects to have a total of 1,020 stores in its portfolio, up from 900 it had at the beginning of the year.