Strategy

Seattle — Recreational Equipment Inc. will make its Florida debut in the spring of 2013 with the opening a a store in Jacksonville, Fla. The company also announced that it will open its eighth store in Texas in the city of San Antonio in the fall of 2012.

The company's first Florida store in Jacksonville will occupy nearly 23,400 sq. ft. and will be located at The Markets at Town Center. The San Antonio location will occupy 27,500 sq. ft.

Tustin, Calif. -- Present Value Properties announced Tuesday that Annette Kolb has been named director of real estate for the firm.

Kolb will be responsible for the real estate needs of national chain retailers including Pizza Hut, Long John Silver and Jack in the Box franchisees located in Phoenix, Dallas and Missouri. She will handle lease extensions/renegotiations, new locations and relocations and be based in Phoenix.

Milwaukee -- MLG Capital said Tuesday that Craig Lashley has been promoted to principal of the firm.

Lashley is currently VP Investments. In his role, he concentrates on the acquisition of new properties and asset management of MLG's existing real estate investment portfolio, which includes 26 assets encompassing approximately 2.5 million sq. ft.
 

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that White House | Black Market will open a new store at its The Village at Towne Centre property near Fredericksburg, Va.

The 4,000+-sq.-ft. store is slated to open spring 2012 across from Coldwater Creek.

Baltimore -- Atlanta-based Jones Lang LaSalle Retail announced that its president Greg Maloney has been appointed receiver of the Eastpoint Mall located in Baltimore County. Under Maloney’s leadership, Jones Lang LaSalle’s retail leasing and management team will assume immediate oversight of the mall and help stabilize the asset.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Chicago-based Mid-America Real Estate Group announced the appointment of Cynthia J. Kratchman as a new principal at its Detroit-based division Mid-America Real Estate-Michigan Inc.

Kratchman joins the firm with more than 20 years of retail brokerage experience in Michigan, and will be primarily responsible for tenant representation, surplus disposition and high profile listings.

Previously, she was a broker with Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services.
 

By Suzy Stewart, DHR International

It appears that 2010 was a real turning point for retailers going to the outside to find experienced and talented omnichannel executives.

TORONTO — Sears Canada is closing three downtown stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. The move follows an announcement last month by Sears Holdings, the majority owner of Sears Canada, that it will raise about $770 million by spinning off parts of its business and selling prime real estate.

QUINCY, Mass., and PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop customers in New England and the New York Metro area helped the retailer give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

ATLANTA — The Martha Stewart brand continues to resonate with consumers, which is why it is no suprise that The Home Depot has extended its agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to offer Martha Stewart Living branded products at its 2,000-plus stores through March 2016.

The agreement also calls for an expansion of products offered.