Strategy

New York City -- The Walt Disney Co. will open its first-ever Disney Baby store next year at the Americana in Glendale, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reported.

The company plans to open Disney Baby locations -- one on each coast -- to display the best of its new infant line, according to the report.

The stores will give Disney executives the opportunity to interact with the parents of newborns and refine product offerings that span infant apparel, nursery items and bath products.
 

New York City -- Chainstoreage.com columnist Jeff Green challenges the boon of the burgeoning burger concepts, posing the question: “Are burger joints here to stay or just a trendy restaurant theme that will overextend itself and “fall of the map” in a few years?

Check out Jeff’s latest column on the real estate community page: chainstoreage.com/article/burger-bonanza-rare-or-well-done

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores will donate as much as $5 million to New York City’s cash-strapped Summer Youth Employment Program, Crain’s New York Business reported. The donation will reportedly save 3,400 jobs.

Chicago -- A Friday report by the Quad City Business Journal said that 7-Eleven will rebrand its previously acquired 14-store Mother Hubbard chain into 7-Eleven stores.

After acquiring the Mother Hubbard’s stores in early 2010 from MHC Convenience LLC, 7-Eleven Inc. announced that it plans to rebrand all 14 stores and offer them for franchise. The sale involved 16 Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard stores, but two in Bettendorf, Iowa, are not currently slated for conversion.

Greeley, Colo. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Greeley, Colo., to T.J. Maxx, which will open a 25,000-sq.-ft. store at Centerplace of Greeley III shopping center.

The 119,000-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 42,000-sq.-ft. Sports Authority and a 30,000-sq.-ft. Best Buy.

Midlothian, Va. -- Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based WP Realty announced Thursday that it has acquired Chesterfield Marketplace located in Midlothian, Va.

This transaction marks WP Realty’s 10th acquisition of the year.

Chesterfield Marketplace is a one-story, 428,576-sq.-ft. community shopping center anchored by PetSmart, Staples and TJ Maxx, and shadow anchored by Home Depot and Toys “R” Us.

The portion of the center acquired, 197,942 sq. ft., is currently 54% occupied with 91,232 sq. ft. of available space.

Columbia, S.C. -- Edens & Avant announced Friday that its CEO Terry S. Brown has been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 Carolinas Award winner.

The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Brown was selected as the winner in the real estate category from nearly 100 nominations across the Carolinas.

Seattle -- Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) on Friday announced plans to open a new store in Indianapolis at the Plaza at Castleton next spring. The new store will be the outdoor retailer’s first in the state.

The one-story, approximately 23,800-sq.-ft. store is one of 117 stores in 28 states and two online stores -- rei.com and rei-outlet.com.
 

Kansas City, Mo. -- Block Real Estate Services said it has opened an office in Atlanta, to provide asset, property, and construction management services to its current portfolio of commercial properties located in the Atlanta-metropolitan area.

Bert Calvert will oversee the operations for BRES in Atlanta.  
 

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it has doubled its Los Angeles office space to accommodate a now 10-person team.

Robert Cohen has been promoted to president of the Southern California division and Rachel Rosenberg has been promoted to executive VP, now overseeing all Southern California operations for the firm.