Deals

New York -- RCS Real Estate Advisors announced it has been retained by Hancock Fabrics, debtor-in-possession, to generate value for the estate through the sale of leases. RCS Real Estate Advisors senior VP Spence J. Mehl made the announcement.

Pier 70, the extensive waterfront redevelopment project in San Francisco, has announced its first official tenant and it’s a big one.

Restoration Hardware will open a five-story, 60,000-sq.ft. gallery-store in the historic Bethlehem Steel building. The high-end home furnishings retailer, slated to open in 2017, will be a subtenant of Orton Development, which master-leased eight buildings along 20th Street that will comprise the core of Pier 70.

Columbus, Ohio -- Casto announced that it has been selected by Edwards Communities Development Company to lease the retail component of The Highline at Nine, Edwards new mixed-use project located in Columbus, Ohio.

The retail development is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2017. Located on the doorstep of The Ohio State University’s South Campus and the northern edge of the Short North Arts District, The Highline at Nine will include approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of prime retail and restaurant space along with 480 student housing beds.

Houma, La. -- X Team International announced that partners Venture Commercial Real Estate and SRSA Commercial Real Estate completed a 20,023 sq. ft. lease for Northern Tool + Equipment in Houma, Louisiana, at the Houma Power Center.

This location will be Northern Tool + Equipment’s second in Louisiana, and will join a strong tenant mix including: Old Navy, Burkes Outlet, Shoe Carnival and Pier 1 Imports.

Winick Realty Group announced Antico Noe, the Florence-based panini shop is bringing its one-of-a-kind sandwiches to New York City. The new store will be 1,600 sq. ft. will operate at 220 East 53rd Street, New York, New York. Located between Second and Third Avenues in Midtown East, the storefront provides Antico Noe exposure to a large daytime population.

Sports Authority is taking steps towards filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to Bloomberg.

The retailer has a debt payment due in 10 days and in talk with its lenders about a reorganization plan under which it would close as many as 200 of its more than 450 stores, the report said.

Sports Authority reportedly skipped a $20 million in interest payment in January on a $343 million loan. It has 10 days to make the payment.

As we look at the white hot commercial real estate market, it’s clear that value-add and opportunistic investors are chasing deals in new asset classes and locations that are less than ideal. And it makes sense: they are return-driven, happy to take more risks to chase higher yields. But when the market inevitably comes down, they’ll have more to lose.

JCPenney is pursuing a possible sale and partial leaseback of its headquarters building in Plano, Texas, as part of an ongoing effort to reduce debt and manage expenses.

The company announced Friday that a combination of favorable market conditions and a surplus of available square footage within the building make this an attractive real estate opportunity.