Mergers & Acquisitions

Columbus, Ohio -- Rolfe Swinton, a creative, consumer insight and technology entrepreneur, has joined strategic brand and design firm Chute Gerdeman as CEO.

Swinton founded and built Lumi Mobile, a provider of mobile-enabled consumer insight technologies backed by WPP and Australian billionaire Chris Morris. He also co-founded Reality Mine, the leading provider of passive mobile data collection and behavioral analytics.

Jupiter, Fla. — Burger & Beer Joint has announced plans for an expansion of 50 stores through franchised and corporate units over the next few years. The expansion is already well underway.

The company recently opened a third store in South Florida and has signed a 10-store franchise agreement to open stores throughout Florida and Georgia.

Sunbury, Pa. -- Weis Markets announced that company president and CEO David J. Hepfinger has left the company to pursue other interests. Company vice chairman Jonathan H. Weis replaces him as interim CEO. Robert F. Weis remains as company chairman.

Hepfinger has also resigned from the company's board of directors. As part of the reorganization, Kurt Schertle, executive VP, sales and merchandising will report directly to Weis who will also oversee the company's real estate/store development, finance and human resources' teams.

Los Angeles — CBRE Group has appointed Chris Ludeman global president of Capital Markets.

Ludeman will oversee the global growth and integration of CBRE’s Capital Markets Service business line, which includes Investment Sales, Debt & Structure Finance and Capital Advisors activities worldwide, working with CBRE’s Capital Markets leaders around he world.

A 33-year veteran of CBRE, Ludeman most recently served as president of the Capital Markets business in the Americas.

Los Angeles -- Sport Chalet has engaged Cappello Capital Corp. as its exclusive financial advisor to assist in exploring a range of options including strategic partners, investors, alliances and joint ventures.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers have announced that construction has begun on Charlotte Premium Outlets. The first phase of the planned 400,000-sq.-ft. center will open in the summer of 2014. The project is a 50/50 joint venture between Simon and Tanger.

Charlotte Premium Outlets will feature Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and more than 90 other outlet stores.

Tanger is providing site development and construction supervision to the venture. Simon is providing management services and marketing.

Delran, N.J. -- More than 20 Sears Home Appliance Showroom and Sears Appliance & Hardware stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware have unveiled kitchen remodeling services from Kitchen Tune-Up, a national kitchen and bath remodeling franchise.

The stores feature an interactive Kitchen Tune-Up kiosk, where customers can learn about options to update their kitchens, view cabinet door samples and use an iPad to see project ideas and book appointments.

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.