Mergers & Acquisitions

McLean, Va. -- One Loudoun Holdings, a joint venture of Miller and Smith and North America Sekisui House, and its retail development partner, Potomac Development Group, announced that Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will open a new location at One Loudoun in Loudoun County, Va.

The 34,000-sq.-ft. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will be the first in the
Washington, D.C., market area. Construction will commence in spring 2012 with a projected opening in spring 2013.

New York City -- Sabre Real Estate Group said it has arranged a lease for the first Orangetheory Fitness Studio on Long Island.

The lease with landlord Federal Realty Investment Trust is for 3,480 sq. ft. at the Huntington Square Mall, located in East Northport and anchored by Sears and Barnes & Noble. The studio is expected to open in February.

Orangetheory Fitness has plans to open as many as 30 studios in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. 
 

NEW YORK — A New York state Supreme Court filing on Monday disclosed that Macy’s Inc. is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. for breach of contract after Martha Stewart set up a new deal last December with JCPenney to sell products at its stores.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. announced Tuesday it has promoted current senior VP-finance John Mulligan to executive VP and CFO, effective April 1.

The announcement concludes a comprehensive search which included both internal and external candidates, said Target.

Mulligan succeeds Doug Scovanner, who announced his retirement last November.

A 16-year Target veteran, Mulligan has held leadership positions in finance, target.com and human resources.

New York City -- Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group said it has arranged a long-term lease at 1225 Madison Avenue for Poulet Rose, the recently launched tween division of young girl's fashion and accessories brand Pink Chicken.  

The current lease represents the brands' first standalone store in New York City, with only one other, a Pink Chicken, located in Amagansett. 
 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers announced it has closed on the acquisition of its first New York property, the 141,382-sq.-ft. Lake Grove Commons, for $72.5 million with its co-investment partner First Washington Realty.

Located on Long Island, Lake Grove Commons is a Class A property anchored by the only Whole Foods Market in Suffolk County along with LA Fitness and Petco. Built in 2008, the center is fully leased to six national tenants.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers Corp. announced changes in its executive management team. Bruce Johnson, executive VP and CFO has announced that he will retire at the end of 2012. Effective with his retirement, Lisa Palmer, senior VP of capital markets, will succeed him as CFO.

One thing merchants know about markdowns is they are best taken early and at a modest level to stimulate sales as opposed clinging too long to the belief goods will sell at full price only to realize steeper cuts are needed. Apparently this philosophy doesn’t apply in the financial services world where Target has temporarily suspended the sale of its credit card receivables portfolio on better terms.