Mergers & Acquisitions

Irvine, Calif. -- Mimi's Cafe said Thursday that Scott Miller has been named VP finance, effective immediately.

Miller most recently was the CFO at El Gallo Giro, a multi-unit taqueria. He also spent 10 years in various financial leadership roles at Carlson Restaurant Inc., with the T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix brands.

Mimi's Cafe was recently acquired by Le Duff America , parent to the Bruegger’s Bagels and la Madeleine banners, and has 145 locations in 24 states.

Boston -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said that it has named Thomas Gorman regional manager of its Boston and Providence, R.I. offices.

Gorman has been serving as the sales manager in the Philadelphia and Washington D.C. offices since November 2011, and is charged with expanding the Boston and Providence offices.

J.C. Penney late Thursday announced that chief operating officer Michael W. Kramer had left the company.

His departure was disclosed in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In connection with Kramer’s departure, he received a lump sum cash payment of $2,143,414. In addition, the company also disclosed that Daniel Walker had resigned as the company’s chief talent officer.

New York -- Dick Lynch has joined the SD Retail Consulting division of Hilco Trading as SVP merchandising and strategy.

In his new role, Lynch will be responsible for helping retailers create shareholder value through process, organization and technology enhancements in the key merchandising and inventory management functions. He will also play a key role in assisting management, owners and lenders in shareholder value creation assignments.

Washington, D.C. -- Combined Properties announced that Scott Kend has joined the company as senior director of development & acquisitions, charged with leading Combined's efforts to acquire new value-add retail shopping centers and mixed-use development projects on the West Coast.  

Kend will also be responsible for redeveloping portions of Combined's portfolio of retail centers in the Southern California region, as well as working on its mixed-use developments.  

Dallas -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced it has added the veteran team of Robin Smith and Lance W. Taylor to its retail brokerage team, both as senior VPs and both charged with assisting the firm’s growing client base of both retailers and landlords throughout the Southwest.

The Smith-Taylor team brings with them a two million sq.-ft. portfolio of retail assets that they currently lease on behalf of multiple owners.

Geno Coradini leads Jones Lang LaSalle Retail for the Dallas/Southwest region.

Dick Lynch has joined the SD Retail Consulting division of Hilco Trading as SVP of merchandising and strategy.

In his new role, Lynch will be responsible for helping retailers create shareholder value through process, organization and technology enhancements in the key merchandising and inventory management functions. He will also play a key role in assisting management, owners and lenders in shareholder value creation assignments.

London -- Grocery chain Fresh & Easy’s British parent Tesco confirmed Wednesday that it will abandon its U.S. business, selling off the 199-store chain and taking a $3.5 billion write-down.