Strategy

Lansing, Mich. -- Centro Properties Group said that Planet Fitness recently opened a 22,950-sq.-ft. location at Delta Center, directly across from Lansing Mall, in Lansing, Mich.

New York City-based Centro owns Delta Center.
 

Atlanta -- LaVida Massage said Wednesday it has named Duane Goodwin and Terry Sharp as Master Developers in the state of Georgia.

Goodwin and Sharp, both former Home Depot senior executives based in Atlanta, will be charged with spearheading the regional growth and the development of several centers in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.

New York City -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it recently secured the first Manhattan Chobani location at 150 Prince St. in SoHo, located on the southwest corner of West Broadway.

The 550-sq.-ft. space, formerly occupied by Swatch, is set to open this summer.

The SoHo location will introduce the Greek yogurt brand to a thriving retail corridor of Manhattan surrounded by co-tenants that include Lucky Brand, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, among others.
 

New York City -- A report released Wednesday by CB Richard Ellis found that New York City remains the world’s most expensive retail destination as retailers focus on the major fashion capitals, pushing global rents in prime locations even higher.

According to the latest CBRE Global Retail MarketView, the improving economy has had a measurably positive impact.

Tucson, Ariz. -- Commercial Retail Advisors said it has hired Derek Gersdorf as a Retail Specialist.

Gersdorf's duties will include retail leasing and retail tenant representation. Prior to joining Commercial Retail Advisors, he worked as a residential appraiser in the Phoenix and Tucson regions for Casa Grande Appraisal Service and Forsythe Appraisals.
 

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Addison, Texas-based Coyote Management L.P. and Garrison Investment Group, through their affiliates, have acquired Chapel Hills Mall, located in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Chapel Hills Mall is a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. enclosed super-regional mall anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Sears, Dicks Sporting Goods and Burlington Coat Factory, and features a 15-screen Carmike Cinema and over 100 specialty stores.

New York City -- The Jones Group has acquired Kurt Geiger, Europe's largest luxury shoe retailer from Graphite Capital, a leading United Kingdom mid-market private equity firm, for approximately $350 million in cash, inclusive of debt acquired.

The acquisition further extends Jones' reach into the designer footwear business through Kurt Geiger's portfolio of high-end brands and presence in leading department stores, such as Harrods and Selfridges.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. announced it has acquired full ownership of Starbucks stores in the China provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Hubei in an agreement with Maxim’s Caterers Ltd., the coffee company’s joint-venture partner. As a result, Starbucks said now has full control of more than half of the Starbucks retail stores in Mainland China as it looks to accelerate growth in the future.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid said its same-store sales rose 1.3% in May. Pharmacy revenue grew 1% and prescriptions edged 0.1% higher. Front-end sales rose 1.8%.
 

New York City -- Private equity firm Gores Group is in talks to buy more than half of Borders Group's remaining stores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Borders, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, would be able to continue operating as a going concern, according to the report.

Other suitors are also talking with Borders, the Wall Street Journal reported.