Corporate Governance

Rock Hill, S.C. -- The developers of Rock Hill Galleria, in Rock Hill, S.C., said Tuesday that the 470,000-sq.-ft. regional mall will initiate a comprehensive renovation and expansion of mall anchor J.C. Penney.

Construction will begin soon and is scheduled for completion in fall 2012.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Williams Sonoma-owned home-furnishings retailer West Elm said Tuesday that it will make its Washington State debut with a new store in Seattle, slated to open Oct. 6.

The 15,000-sq.-ft. store will feature a number of unique design details, according to West Elm, including a living wall and an art installation designed specifically for the location.

Like other West Elm stores, the Seattle location is designed using green materials and includes low-energy lighting, low-VOC paints and reclaimed hardwood floors.
 

Los Angeles -- A Tuesday report by CNN Money, citing a regulatory filing, said that private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners is raising $5 billion for its sixth private equity fund.

Leonard Green’s current retail portfolio includes Sports Authority, Neiman Marcus and Whole Foods, with plans underway to add BJ's Wholesale Club to its holdings.

According to the report, the SEC filing does not confirm that the firm has closed on any money as of yet.
 

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples said Tuesday it is promoting Christine Komola to CFO, effective Feb. 1.

Komola, a 14-year veteran of the company, will report to the company's vice chairman, John Mahoney, who has been CFO since 1996.

She has served as VP planning and control, senior VP and corporate controller and CFO of the company's website.
 

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties said Monday that River Chase Shopping Center Phase Two, which broke ground in August, has added eight new national tenants that will bring 85,000 sq. ft. of retail space to River Chase as part of an expansion to the development’s existing shopping center. All stores are expected to open spring 2012.

Dallas -- Cypress Equities said Tuesday that Dallas mixed-use development Village on the Green will showcase a new fine dining restaurant Aquadora.

The 6,052-sq.-ft. restaurant is slated to open before the end of the year in the space formerly occupied by GoFish.

The restaurant owners, LIG Entertainment Management, have remodeled the former GoFish dining area and extended the lounge.

New York City -- High-end Swiss cosmetic retailer La Prairie will expand its Fifth Avenue location, between 53rd and 54th Streets.

According to its real estate representative Cushman & Wakefield, La Prairie will expand and occupy an additional 9,400 sq. ft. and the entire 11th floor of its existing building. The company also occupies the entire 13th and 14th floors.

La Prairie will occupy a total of 22,110 sq. ft. in the 26-story building.

Marietta, Ga. -- LaVida Massage said it will open a new location in Marietta, Ga., on Lower Roswell Rd.

The newest location is slated to open Oct. 1 in 3,000 sq. ft., and is owned and managed by Georgia Master Developers Terry Sharp and Duane Goodwin.

San Francisco -- Grosvenor Americas said it has appointed Steve O’Connell to the position of development manager in the company’s San Francisco headquarters office.

O’Connell will oversee the development process from property identification and purchase through design, entitlement, construction, leasing, and stabilization. He was previously with Swinerton Builders in San Francisco as a construction project manager on large urban mixed-use projects.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that that Marco’s Pizza has leased 1,737 sq. ft. at Bridgewater Marketplace, located in Carmel, Ind. Bridgewater Marketplace has a total GLA of 55,180 sq. ft.

Great Clips has leased 1,627 sq. ft. at Naperville Marketplace located in Naperville, Ill., a 162,111-sq.-ft. center anchored by TJ Maxx, Petsmart and Caputo’s Fresh Market.

Learning Express Toys has leased 3,704 sq. ft. at Oleander Point in Wilmington, N.C., a 57,782-sq.-ft. Whole Foods-anchored center.