Deals

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic announced it has agreed to be acquired by New York-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $14.00 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $600 million.

The agreement, unanimously approved by Hot Topic’s board of directors, represents a premium of approximately 30% over Hot Topic’s closing stock price on March 6, 2013.

NEW YORK — JCPenney Co. continues to dominate the retail news as its shares dropped 10.6% yesterday to a four-year low after reports that one of its largest shareholders had sold a chunk of the troubled company’s stock. And in a late afternoon report, The Wall Street Journal said that a group of Penney directors is ready to get rid of CEO Ron Johnson, or push to sell the chain unless he can stop the company’s heavy bleeding this year.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that Sean Thomas has been named first VP of the company’s Phoenix office.

Thomas will focus on disposition and investment services in his new position.

New York -- RKF said it has arranged a 2,100-sq.-ft. lease for GNC at 302 Canal Street in downtown Manhattan.

The new store, which will consist of 1,050 sq. ft. on both the ground floor and basement of the building, is located less than one block east of Broadway near Mercer Street.  It will become GNC’s 47th Manhattan location when it officially opens this spring.

With this latest lease transaction, RKF has arranged five retail leases in New York City on behalf of GNC.

Milwaukee -- NAI MLG Commercial announced that Tim Janusz and Brett Garceau have been promoted to VP.

Janusz specializes in office landlord and tenant representation, and Garceau specializes in the lease and sale of industrial properties.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Cody Persyn has been named VP of the company’s Houston office.

Persyn will focus on disposition, investment sales, and land brokerage.

San Francisco -- LandMark Retail Group said it has opened three CVS/pharmacy stores in San Francisco on behalf of the drugstore retailer.  

Over the past year, the firm has completed 13 CVS stores throughout California with plans to open four more this year.

The first CVS/pharmacy store is located at 351 California St., occupying a ground-level retail space in a San Francisco financial district office building. It features 9,009 sq. ft., and opened after five months of construction.
 

New York -- RKF announced that it has arranged four long-term leases for U.K.-based sandwich chain Pret A Manger.

The new stores are located at 655 Sixth Avenue, 319 Broadway, 350 Park Avenue and 303 Park Avenue South. With the addition of these new stores, Pret A Manger will have 36 Manhattan locations.

While the 655 Sixth Avenue location recently opened, the other three locations are slated to open in April.

New York -- Winick Realty Group announced that two of Columbus Square’s anchor tenants — Whole Foods and Michael’s — are expanding their footprints at the mixed-use development located in the heart of the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

“Both Whole Foods and Michael’s have seen such great success since opening at Columbus Square,” said Winick Realty director Kelly Gedinsky. “By expanding … they are now able to accommodate the high levels of foot traffic their location demands.”

Royal Palm Beach, Fla. -- Jones Lang LaSalle Retail announced that the firm has been retained by Clarion Partners as the exclusive leasing and management agent for Coral Sky Plaza in Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

The 233,000-sq.-ft. strip center is anchored by BJ’s Wholesale Club and is currently 97% leased.

Coral Sky Plaza is tenanted by Ross Dress for Less, Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Jones Lang LaSalle said it is currently seeking high-impact retailers to fill a vacant endcap space.