Mergers & Acquisitions

San Jose, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. announced that Robert Cook has joined the company as senior VP corporate services, based in the company’s San Jose office. 

Salt Lake City -- On the heels of a new self-serve prototype, TCBY, announced an agreement with Lone Star Yogurt to open 200 stores over the next 10 years with area developer.

Lone Star Yogurt plans to open its first TCBY self-serve store in January in Lone Star’s hometown of Tyler, Texas. It has committed to open another 24 TCBY self-serve stores in East Texas, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston in the next 18 months.

The challenge of spearheading Target’s entry into Canada will be handled by Tony Fisher. He was named president of Target Canada last week in a brief press release that offered little detail on his background or qualifications to lead the company’s efforts to open between 100 and 150 stores beginning in 2013. Here’s what Target had to say about Fisher.

WARREN, Mich. -- Art Van Furniture announced that, for the first time in company history, it will grand open three stores in one day. On January 22, 2011, Art Van will celebrate the grand openings of three new stores  in Auburn Hills, Petoskey and Onaway. Mich.

Belgium -- Belgian supermarket operator Delhaize Group said Thursday it plans to spend $1.21 billion opening new stores and remodeling existing outlets.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, Delhaize, which operates mainly under the U.S. Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweet Bay banners, is making the investments despite a fourth quarter same-store sales decline of 0.8%.

New York City -- After filing for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in September, then winning an extension until Feb. 4 to file its restructuring plan to emerge from bankruptcy, Blockbuster now has until March 21 to file the plan and until May 20 to round up enough votes among its creditors for approval.  

Judge Burton R. Lifland of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan granted the extension Wednesday.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has pulled the plug on its plan to hire former Walmart exec Hank Mullany, and is handing the keys to its retail business on an interim basis to Mike Bloom, EVP merchandising and supply chain, and Scott Baker, EVP internal operations and real estate, who will assume management for the company’s 7,100-plus stores.

New York City -- Real estate firm The Feil Organization announced Friday that Tommy Bahama has signed a groundbreaking lease for the opening of its first Manhattan store at 551 First Avenue at 45th Street.

The Seattle-based chain signed a 12-year lease agreement and will occupy 8,500 sq. ft. on the ground, mezzanine and basement levels of the renowned art deco Fred F. French building that is owned and managed by The Feil Organization.