Corporate Governance

New York -- RKF announced the opening of a Chicago office as part of its ongoing expansion into key urban markets nationwide. This is the firm’s seventh office; others include its New York headquarters, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey, and San Francisco.

“The opening of our Chicago office is a crucial part of our national strategy to expand RKF’s on-the-ground presence in key urban markets in the U.S.,” said RKF chairman & CEO Robert Futterman.

Thousand Oaks, Calif. -- NewMark Merrill Cos. announced the May 13 opening of the first Hooters Restaurant in Ventura County at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The new 5,700-sq.-ft. restaurant is located near Burlington Coat Factory and features seating for 230 guests. 

Hooters is the newest tenant to join Regency Theaters, Toys “R” Us, Old Navy, Marshall’s, Buca di Beppo, Panera Bread, Burlington Coat Factory and other national, regional and community tenants at Janss Marketplace. 

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that Latin Fusion restaurant Blend has signed a lease for 4,284 sq. ft. in Long Island City.

The restaurant is situated at the base of a newly constructed luxury rental building, part of a waterfront residential complex constructed by developer TF Cornerstone.

Purchase, N.Y. -- National Realty & Development Corp. said it has been chosen to receive the New Jersey Future 2012 Smart Growth Award for the redevelopment of CooperTowne Center in Somerdale, N.J.

The award recognizes the best development or redevelopment projects around the state that embrace sustainable growth and environmental preservation. CooperTowne Center was classified as a greyfields project, one of the first in the state, by the New Jersey Office of Smart Growth.

Dallas -- Restaurant chain Seasons 52 said it has selected NorthPark Center for its first location in Dallas. The new Seasons 52 restaurant at NorthPark Center is expected to open this fall.

The restaurant will be located between Neiman Marcus and Dillard's, with entrances from both inside the mall and street side.

New York -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said it has negotiated a 21,191-sq.-ft. lease for The Tile Shop in Scarsdale, N.Y., in affluent Westchester County.

The new store, slated to open this summer, is the retailer’s first in the area.
 

Yorkville, Ill. -- Tucker Development Corp. said that Athens Gyros & Kebabs will open a location at Yorkville Marketplace, located in Yorkville, Ill.

The Middle Eastern restaurant signed a lease to occupy a 1,258-sq.-ft. space within the 145,000-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by Jewel-Osco and OfficeMax.

Chicago -- A recent report from Jones Lang LaSalle showed that the current state of real estate markets suggests a temporary deceleration in the on-going global real estate market recovery.

According to JLL’s latest Global Market Perspective report, sentiment is, however, recovering and full-year 2012 commercial real estate volumes are expected to match the robust levels seen in 2011.

Hoboken, N.J. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate said that it has negotiated a 1,350-sq.-ft. lease in downtown Hoboken, N.J., for frozen yogurt purveyor Red Mango.

The urban storefront, located in a former pizza space, is slated to open this summer.

New Haven, Conn. -- RHYS Commercial said that Harbor Freight Tools is opening three Connecticut locations – in New Haven (17,000 sq. ft.), Bridgeport (14,284 sq. ft.) and Waterbury (16,813 sq. ft.).

The tool and equipment retailer’s location in New Haven opened April 27; construction is underway on the other two outlets.