Deals

Birmingham, Ala. -- In a deal that may take it private again, Books-A-Million Inc. has given its OK to a buyout deal from the family of its original owners.

The chain reached an agreement to be acquired by a newly organized entity owned by the Anderson Family, which includes Books-A-Million executive chairman Clyde B. Anderson, for $21 million, or $3.25 a share in cash. (According to the most recent SEC filing, the Anderson family already owns 58.2% of the company).

Plano, Texas - Rent-A-Center Inc. has sold 14 rent-to-own stores located in Alberta and Ontario, Canada to Canadian merchandise leasing company Easyhome Ltd. The transaction included Rent-a-Center concurrently purchasing three Easyhome rent-to-own stores located in Florida, Missouri and New York.

Chesapeake, Va. – Dollar Tree Inc. is not slowing down after finalizing its $8.5 billion acquisition of Family Dollar Stores Inc. last week. The retailer plans to open a 1.5 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in the vicinity of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Cincinnati – Macy’s is reducing its presence in Pittsburgh. The retailer has sold its downtown Pittsburgh building at 400 Fifth Avenue to Philadelphia-based Core Realty and will close its store in that location.

Boston – A three-level CityTarget store is a main feature of a new $315 million mixed-use development on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. The Samuels & Associates development also includes a 172-unit luxury apartment building and adjoining 11-story office tower.

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Peoria, Ill. - Cullinan Properties has acquired an approximately 264-acre site located at the northeast intersection of interstates 55 and 80 in Joliet, Illinois. The property was purchased from O & S Holdings, LLC who acquired the property in 2008, and originally entered into an agreement to develop a project known as Bridge Street Town Center.

However, with the sale of the property, O & S Holdings has terminated the original development agreement. “

The private equity firms that paid a premium to take Michaels private nearly a decade ago continue to gradually unwind their majority position in the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailer.

New York -- Trader Joe’s is opening a store in the heart of what is arguably the nation’s hippest enclave.

The grocer has signed a lease to open an 18,000-sq.-ft. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, reported Crain’s New York.

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Phoenix -- DTZ, a leader in commercial real estate services, announced that a limited partnership formed by Weingarten Realty Investors of Houston acquired The Summit at Scottsdale, a 190,408-sq.-ft. retail center anchored by Safeway and Target, for $54.1 million.

Donahue Schriber Realty Group, L.P., of Costa Mesa, California, was the seller of the property located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Ashler Hills Drive in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Phoenix -- DTZ, a leader in commercial real estate services, announced the $52 million sale of Crossroads Towne Center in North Las Vegas -- a 148,791-sq.-ft. neighborhood retail center located on 16.34 acres -- on behalf of the sellers, a company formed by The Eagle Group, Los Angeles. The buyer was a company formed by Cornerstone Advisers of Santa Monica, California.