Strategy

Washington -- Despite some groups’ claims, the National Retail Federation said that few, if any, merchants are expected to surcharge customers for using a credit card as theoretically allowed under a controversial proposed lawsuit settlement with Visa and MasterCard being debated in the courts.

 

Sunrise, Fla. -- Ikea on Wednesday officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in City of Sunrise, Fla. It is the largest solar installation in South Florida and, when combined with Ikea projects already completed atop stores in Orlando and Tampa, will make Ikea the state’s largest non-utility solar owner. 

Miami -- Swire Properties and Bal Harbour Shops announced Wednesday they have agreed to an equity partnership to jointly develop the retail component of Brickell City Centre, currently under construction in the Brickell financial district of downtown Miami.

The 2.9 million-sq.-ft. Brickell City Centre will include 500,000 sq. ft. of high-end retail along with condominiums and hotel slated for completion in latter 2015.
 

New York -- SRS Real Estate Partners said Wednesday it has negotiated two leases on behalf of Miller’s Ale House. The first transaction is a ground lease located on 1.5 acres of land off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Willow Grove, Pa. The second lease is 9,200 sq. ft. located at the Bergen Towne Center in Paramus, N.J.

Miller’s Ale House is a 60-unit restaurant chain headquartered in Jupiter, Fla.

Aurora, Colo. -- Brixmor Property Group announced Wednesday a 28,000-sq.-ft. lease was executed with Books-A-Million at Arapahoe Crossings, located in Aurora, Colo., a suburb of Denver.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Arapahoe Crossings.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Brixmor Property Group announced Wednesday that a 12,420-sq.-ft. Petco recently opened at Five Points, located in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Five Points.

Hyannis, Mass. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said Tuesday that, as part of its major remerchandising of Southwind Plaza shopping center in Hyannis, Mass., Kohl’s and Whole Foods Market will be opening new stores at the Cape Cod property.

Kohl’s will begin construction of a nearly 55,000-sq.-ft. space in February with an opening planned for early October.  

Also joining the center with its first Cape location is Whole Foods Market, which will open a 26,000-sq.-ft. store in early 2014.
     

New York -- RKF said Tuesday it has completed the leasing assignment at the base of The Mark Hotel at 992-998 Madison Avenue on behalf of ownership Alexico Group.

All of the hotel’s ground-floor retail space, which is located on Madison Avenue and 77th Street, is now leased.

RKF was responsible for leases with Zadig et Voltaire, Jack Vartanian, Punto Ottico, Phoenix Roze and, more recently, 25 Park. These tenants joined Frederic Fekkai Salon, The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges, John Lobb and Sant Ambroeus at the property.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties said Tuesday that Scott Laslo has joined the company as VP asset management. 

Laslo more recently served as VP/general manager and VP for Forest City Enterprises. His asset management role at Bayer will focus on value creation and oversight of the company’s growing portfolio of over 10 million sq. ft.
 

Clarksville, Tenn. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that Ross Dress for Less will open a new store at Governor’s Square Mall, its first in the Clarksville, Tenn., area.

When it opens in the summer of 2013, the new store will occupy more than 31,000 sq. ft. next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Governor’s Square Mall comprises over one million sq. ft. of retail space and is anchored by Dillards, Belk, Sears, J.C. Penney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, and Cinema Ten.