Mergers & Acquisitions

Tampa, Fla. — Burger 21, a new concept from The Melting Pot Restaurants, has announced the opening of its first restaurant in Virginia. To be located in Ashburn, the restaurant, which is approximately 3,200 sq. ft., will be one of four units planned for the Greater Washington, D.C., area.

Currently, Burger 21 has 11 restaurants open and 17 franchised locations in development across the U.S. Plans call for a minimum of 15 additional restaurants in the Greater Washington, D.C., area.

Atlanta -- Christine Day, the outgoing CEO of Lululemon, has been appointed CEO at Luvo, a start-up frozen-food company that focuses on healthy, low calorie, low sodium meals. Day’s appointment is effective April 1.

Best Buy has elected Cabela's president and CEO Thomas L. Millner to its board of directors.

“Tommy is a well-regarded CEO who has successfully transitioned his organization from a traditional retailer to one that is highly respected as an effective omnichannel player,” said Hatim Tyabji, chairman of the Best Buy board of directors. “Best Buy is on the same journey and Tommy’s insights will, no doubt, be valuable as the Company looks to even better serve its customers wherever and however they want.”

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. — Mid-America Real Estate Corp. has brokered the sale of two centers on behalf of Retail Properties of America.
 
First, Phillips Edison & Company purchased the 134,229-sq.-ft. Duck Creek Plaza in Bettendorf, Iowa, for $19.7 million. Schnucks and Marshalls anchor Duck Creek Plaza, and Home Depot serves as a shadow anchor. Mid-America Real Estate Corp. in cooperation with Mid-America Real Estate — Iowa LLC brokered the transaction exclusively on behalf of RPAI.

Los Angeles — The CBRE Group has signed a multi-year contract with Carlson to provide project management for select locations in the United States including the company’s world headquarters. Carlson is a family-owned, global hospitality and travel industry company with more than 1,300 hotels in operation and development and more than 900 restaurants worldwide.

Victory Electronic Cigarettes announced that Bill Fields, former president and CEO of Walmart stores division, will join its board of directors.  

RadioShack is enlisting specialty retail industry veteran John W. Feray to help the company execute its turnaround strategy and has appointed him EVP and CFO effective Feb. 6.

Feray joins RadioShack from Dollar General, where he has been SVP of finance and strategy since 2008 under both private equity ownership and as a public company. With responsibility for financial planning and analysis, long-term strategic planning, real estate market planning and operational improvement activities, he has been credited as a key contributor to Dollar General's growth.

New York -- Eminence Capital, a 4.9% stakeholder in Jos. A. Bank and a 10% shareholder in Men’s Wearhouse, said it supports Men's Wearhouse's proposed acquisition of the company and demanded that Jos. A. Bank's board sit down and engage in "meaningful, good faith negotiations."

Efforts to merge the two retailers have dragged on for months, with each chain having their offers to acquire the other rejected.