Deals

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma is betting it can replicate its highly successful formula internationally, with the opening of new stores in Sydney, Australia.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Collective Brands stockholders voted at a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the sale of the company for about $1.32 billion.

Collective, which owns the Payless and Stride Rite shoe store banners, had announced in May that it accepted a purchase offer from a group that includes Wolverine Worldwide Inc., Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital.

New York -- A group of Rona Inc.'s dealers on Wednesday released an open letter on Wednesday that criticized the proposed takeover of the Canadian home-improvement retailer and distributor by Lowe’s Cos., Reuters reported.

The letter, which was addressed to Lowe's CEO Robert Niblock, was signed by merchants that operate 164 affiliate or franchise Rona stores.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands stockholders voted at a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the sale of the company for about $1.32 billion.

Collective, which owns the Payless and Stride Rite shoe store banners, had announced in May that it accepted a purchase offer from a group that includes Wolverine Worldwide Inc., Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital.

Chicago — Suitors are lining up to carve out divisions of Supervalu following the company's announcement last month that strategic divestitures were on the table as the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based grocer seeks to turn around its business performance. A Crain's report published Monday identified Klaff Realty as one of the first companies to express an interest, in this case the Jewel-Osco piece of the business.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven announced today that it has closed a deal to acquire 74 operating convenience stores and two land parcels from Prima Marketing LLC, a 7-Eleven licensee with stores in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The bulk of the stores being purchased are in West Virginia.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Dallas -- A Thursday report by the Wall Street Journal said that Warburg Pincus and TPG, the private-equity owners of Neiman Marcus Group Inc., are looking for an exit.

The firms paid $5.1 billion for Neiman Marcus seven years ago; the company is currently valued, according to analysts, at about $4 billion.

Thousand Oaks, Calif. -- NewMark Merrill Cos. said that Sweet Tooth Dental Center and Dish Restaurant will open at Janss Marketplace, in Thousand Oaks, Calif., bringing the center to 97% occupancy.

Dish Restaurant signed a 10-year lease for a 6,548-sq.-ft. space near Aaron Bros. and RadioShack. The new restaurant at Janss Marketplace, which is the second location for Dish, is slated to open in mid-Sept.

Sweet Tooth Dental Center signed a five-year lease and has opened in a 2,613-sq.-ft. space near Dressbarn and Payless Shoe Source.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that FreeBirds World Burrito has selected seven new locations slated to open in Central California later this year.
 
The seven sites in California are located in Sacramento, Tracy, Fresno, Clovis, Turlock, and two sites in Modesto, and all were acquired from Qdoba franchisee 4G Management. All locations will be converted to company owned and operated units and range from 2,000 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft.
 

North Plainfield, N.J. -- Levin Management Corp. said that it has secured five new shopping center property assignments in recent weeks, reflecting continued demand for third-party retail real estate services in the New York/New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets.

The new assignments include leasing- and/or management-specific roles. They include: Olde Lafayette Village in Lafayette, N.J.; Whiting Town Center in Whiting, N.J.; Pathmark Plaza in Staten Island, N.Y.; Central Ave. in Scarsdale, N.Y.; and Atlantic Plaza in Pleasantville, N.J.