Deals

Chicago – Japanese fast-casual dining chain Jinya Ramen Bar, is using tenant representation from JLL to expand its U.S. brand. Jinya expects to add an additional nine U.S. franchise locations in key cities.

Currently, there are 14 locations throughout Japan, the U.S., Canada and Indonesia, all of which operate under Jinya brands. Senior VP Greg Ferrante and associate Arris Noble are leading the JLL team on this project.

New York - Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th plans to open a new store in spring 2016 at Gateway Shopping Centers in Austin, Texas. The new 50,000-sq.-ft. store will be fashioned in an open, modular layout, and feature a unique and unparalleled selection of designer finds for both men and women.

Dallas – Encore Retail, LLC, a subsidiary of Encore Enterprises, Inc., has acquired land to develop a 16+ acre high-density Class A mixed-use development in the affluent Town of Bedford, New Hampshire. The development is planned to be over 200,000 sq. ft. and will consist of fashion, recreation, fitness, dining and office space located in New Hampshire's retail and business hub.

The property is positioned along South River Road at the intersection of Route 101 and Everett Turnpike

New York - RDG Capital Fund Management, a shareholder of TravelCenters of America, is recommending a major financial step. RDG has delivered a letter to the TravelCenters board of directors strongly recommending a $100 million share buyback that RDG estimates would increase stock price by more than 33% to $17 per share.

Chicago -- Transwestern’s Chicago office announced it brokered the sale of Town Square of Schaumburg, a 96,014 sq. ft. retail center, in Schaumburg, Illinois, for an undisclosed amount to Tony’s Finer Foods. Tony’s Finer Foods plans to open a Tony’s in the former Dominick’s space, which closed in December 2013.

Westlake, Ohio -- TravelCenters of America has completed its previously disclosed acquisition of 33 convenience store locations in northern Illinois.

The company expects the stores, which average approximately 3,400 sq. ft., will be rebranded as Minit Mart convenience stores and the sites will undergo improvements in the coming months.

TravelCenters of America operates some 370 convenience stores under the Minit Mart, TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands.
 

Chicago – Mid-America Real Estate Corporation announced the addition of Lara Keene as VP to the Urban Team. Prior to joining Mid-America Keene was managing director at RKF and part of Baum Realty Group’s tenant and luxury division.

Keene will be specializing in landlord and tenant representation with a focus on Chicago’s luxury fashion streets and neighborhoods.

New York -- Macy’s has joined the increasing number of retailers tapping into their real estate assets.

Macy’s on Wednesday announced a real estate purchase agreement with developer Tishman Speyer to sell several of the nine floors of the Macy’s store on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York. The real estate transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, and Macy’s is expected to record a gain of approximately $250 million in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2015.

Macy’s may be counting on key growth initiatives to generate sales during the holidays after reporting another disappointing quarter of financial results.

The company says same store sales declined 2.1% in the second quarter ended Aug. 1. Profit fell to $217 million, or 64 cents a share, from $292 million, or 80 cents a share, a year earlier. Total sales fell 2.6% to $6.1 billion, missing analysts’ estimates for $6.23 billion. Gross margin narrowed to 40.9% from 41.4% a year earlier.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that it has named Brad Balbo as senior VP in the company's Phoenix office. Balbo specializes in the leasing, valuation and operations of retail shopping centers, with a focus on the restaurant segment.  

Balbo joins SRS from a boutique firm in Scottsdale, and will focus primarily on landlord and tenant representation and investment sales for SRS.