Corporate Governance

Simsbury, Conn. -- Charter Realty & Development said it has leased 23,500 sq. ft. to HomeGoods in Simsbury, Conn.

HomeGoods, a TJX banner, will be opening in Simsbury Commons Shopping Center in a former Borders location, joining Stop & Shop, Bed Bath & Beyond, Hoyt Cinema and Bob’s Store.

The 256,497-sq.-ft. center is owned by Columbia, S.C.-based EDENS.

Charter Realty & Development represents TJX Cos., including HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, throughout the eastern half of the United States.

New York -- Gregorys Coffee said Thursday it has executed a new lease at 878 6th Avenue (Between 31st and 32nd St.) in Herald Square, as part of the expansion efforts of the coffee shop chain throughout Manhattan.

The new site is scheduled to open its doors in June.

The two-story location will feature 1,000 sq. ft. on the second floor, set up as a training center.
 

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Fameco Real Estate said that Buffalo Wild Wings has signed a 6,200-sq.-ft. lease at the Kennedy Mall in Brick Township, N.J.

The AntSul Group, doing business as Buffalo Wild Wings in the region, currently has two locations open; one in North Brunswick and one in Bridgewater. The location at Kennedy Mall will be the group’s third and it is expected to open in late May.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Madison Marquette announced Thursday that two of its senior professionals, John-david Franklin (who will represent Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey) and Chuck Taylor (who will represent Florida), have been selected as State Directors by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The volunteer positions are granted annually to industry leaders who are seen to display unique dedication to ICSC goals and mission.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Kirk L. Trammell senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Palo Alto.

Trammell joined Marcus & Millichap in June 1989. During his career, he has closed more than $1 billion in commercial property transactions, according to the company.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy announced that it is creating a committee to run a global search for a new CEO to replace Brian Dunn, who resigned on Thursday. The retailer said the search could take six to nine months to complete.

The committee will be headed by Kathy J. Higgins Victor, a board member and chairwoman of Best Buy's nominating committee. Six search firms will be interviewed and the final search firm partner will be selected in the next few weeks, the chain said in a statement.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced a definitive agreement to acquire Varicent Software Inc., Toronto, a leading provider of analytics software for compensation and sales performance management. Financial terms were not disclosed.

New York -- MSP Technology, Huntington, N.Y., a leader in the development of energy-efficient dehumidification and energy recovery technology, announced that it has furnished two 20,000 cfm roof-mounted dehumidification units to Walmart and Sam’s Club supermarket locations in Puerto Rico. The units replace the locations’ gas-driven desiccant systems.

The way we pay and with what has and will continue to change. “Retailers may soon find themselves trying to figure out the most efficient way to convert such things as Facebook credits into cash and back again,” according to Eddie Myers, president of the Electronic Transactions Association.

The Canadian consumer is a value conscious, “tough nut to crack,” who is already well-served by existing retailers, according to Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada, a trade association founded in 1963 that represents retailers that operate more than 45,000 stores and account for 85% of Canadian retail sales.