Finance & Capital Management

Norton, Va. — Rivercrest Realty Associates has acquired the 81,297-sq.-ft. Norton Commons shopping center in Norton, Va., for $6,910,000.

Divaris Real Estate represented the seller, General Electric Credit Equities, in the transaction. At the time of the sale, the center, anchored by Burke’s Outlet, was 98% occupied.

Philadelphia — Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust has completed the sales of two power center properties. In two separate transactions, PREIT sold Christiana Center in Newark, Del., and Commons at Magnolia in Florence, S.C. for $87.3 million. The proceeds represent a blended cap rate of 6.8%. Gains on the sales totaled approximately $45.4 million.

In connection with these transactions, the buyer assumed the $49.2 million mortgage loan secured by Christiana Center.

Atlanta — A private investor from the Atlanta, suburb of Johns Creek has acquired Camden Village Shopping Center from a California corporation. According to Marcus & Millichap of Atlanta, which represented the seller and buyer in the transaction, the purchase price totaled $6,150,000.

The center includes popular local tenants like Marlow’s Tavern and Noche Restaurant among others.

Atlanta – The Home Depot, Inc. is reportedly going to stop providing health care benefits to part-time employees working less than 30 hours per week. According to Bloomberg, starting next month the retailer will send about 20,000 part-time employees to purchase their own insurance on government-sponsored healthcare exchanges that will be created under the guidelines of the Affordable Care Act.

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports, Inc. substantially missed expectations with a 32% decline in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period last year. Net income totaled $17.8 million in the most recent fiscal quarter, down from $26.2 million.

Total sales were $395.6 million, a 7.6% increase from $367.6 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales increased 3.5% during the second quarter.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 stockholders have approved the previously announced merger agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire the shares of Rue21 for $42 per share in cash. Approximately 99.7% of the shares voted at today’s special stockholder meeting voted in favor of the agreement.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that its second freestanding Field & Stream location will open on November 1, in Buttermilk Towne Center, Crescent Springs, Ky.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. reported that it swung to  profit in the second-quarter profit, fueled by increased sales and stronger margins. The drugstore chain raised its full-year forecast.

Rite Aid reported a profit of $32.8 million for the quarter ended Aug. 31, compared with a year-earlier loss of $38.8 million. It was the chain’s fourth-straight quarterly profit.

Sales for the quarter were $6.3 billion, up from $6.2 billion in the year ago period. Same-store sales were up by 1%,

Boise, Idaho — Gordmans Inc. has signed an anchor lease for 50,505 sq. ft. at Southshore Shopping Center in Boise, Idaho, said Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC. The store is slated to open next spring.

The property is owned by Pine Tree –Inland Development I LLC, a joint venture between Inland Real Estate Corporation and Pine Tree Institutional Realty LLC, an affiliate of Pine Tree Commercial Realty.

Mark Bottles Real Estate Services represented the landlord in the transaction.

Northbrook, Ill. — Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC recently promoted Todd Zinsmaster from senior VP to executive VP of acquisitions and development.