Strategy

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that new leadership in the Houston office has been put in place to help strengthen the firm’s presence throughout central and south Texas.

Todd Wallace and Robert O’Farrell have been named co-market leaders for the Houston office, focusing on growth via building its retail brokerage team.

Wallace and O’Farrell currently lead the Austin and newly established San Antonio offices as well. With this leadership change, Wallace and O’Farrell will be leading all the offices.

QUINCY, Mass. — A Northeastern supermarket chain has made a business magazine's list of the top 10 most innovative companies in the food industry.

Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and its real estate platform The Mills announced that a newly expanded 20,000-sq.-ft. Forever 21 will open at its value retail destination Discover Mills, located in Atlanta.

The enlarged Forever 21 is slated to open summer 2012 near Entry 5 across from Nike Factory Store.

“An expanded and relocated Forever 21 enhances our value retail mix and the overall shopping experience at Discover Mills,” said Karl Woodard, general manager of Discover Mills.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has given Steve Frisby, the added responsibility of the company's Seattle division after the exit of the current president, Greg Sparks. Frisby, who joined Safeway in 1972, currently serves as the president of its Portland, Ore., division.

Dallas -- Zale Corp. said Tuesday that it has named Jamie Singleton as senior VP and general manager of Piercing Pagoda, effective March 27.

Singleton is charged with overall responsibility for the company’s kiosk business and will report to Theo Killion, CEO.

Singleton most recently served as senior VP business expansion at CPI Corp.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation released information on Tuesday that showed a year-over-year retail sales rise of 8.6% in February, marking 20 consecutive months of sustained growth.

The seasonally adjusted increase -- stronger than expected -- was 0.5%, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

Hoover, Ala. -- Chicago-based General Growth Properties and Montgomery, Ala.-based Jim Wilson & Associates announced that Von Maur department store will open at Riverchase Galleria, in Hoover, Ala.

Alabama’s first Von Maur will open in 2013, featuring a 187,000-sq.-ft. store that will join Macy’s, Sears, J.C. Penney and Belk anchors.

Encino, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Brandon Michaels senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Encino.

Michaels joined Marcus & Millichap in July 2004.