Deals

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Chicago-based Mid-America Real Estate Group announced the appointment of Cynthia J. Kratchman as a new principal at its Detroit-based division Mid-America Real Estate-Michigan Inc.

Kratchman joins the firm with more than 20 years of retail brokerage experience in Michigan, and will be primarily responsible for tenant representation, surplus disposition and high profile listings.

Previously, she was a broker with Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services.
 

TORONTO — Sears Canada is closing three downtown stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. The move follows an announcement last month by Sears Holdings, the majority owner of Sears Canada, that it will raise about $770 million by spinning off parts of its business and selling prime real estate.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Canadian discount store chain The Bargain! Shop said Monday that it will acquire 10 retail locations from Hudson's Bay Co.’s closing Fields banner, effective Aug. 1.

The acquisitions will grow The Bargain! Shop to 237 stores.

"As part of our plan to further grow our organization, this is a great opportunity for us to expand our footprint across Canada," said Lloyd Davis, president of The Bargain! Shop. 

St. Louis -- A Ross Dress for Less executive suggested that the midwestern United States offers significant growth potential for the discounter. In an interview on the St. Louis Today website, reported Monday, the company’s VP for the midwest region Fred Shuey said that Ross’s two just-opened St. Louis stores will be joined by more.

Sioux Falls, S.D. -- Verizon Wireless services retailer Z Wireless, which operates 12 stores throughout Kansas, on Monday announced the acquisition of T2 Wireless, another Verizon retailer which operates more than a hundred stores in the Great Plains.

Atlantic Street Capital, a private equity firm investing in the lower middle market, acquired Z Wireless in 2011.

Toronto -- Sears Canada Inc. said on Friday it is shutting down three downtown stores in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa. The move follows an announcement last month by Sears Holdings, the majority owner of Sears Canada, that it will raise about $770 million by spinning off parts of its business and selling prime real estate.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Shopping center owner Regency Centers said Thursday that it has launched construction on Southpark at Cinco Ranch, a 260,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center anchored by Kroger, in Fort Bend County, Houston.

In partnership with Excel Commercial Real Estate, Regency Centers began construction of the center’s first phase on Feb. 20, with anchor openings scheduled for fourth quarter 2012.

Shanghai, China -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, along with Chinese retail conglomerate Bailian Group, announced plans to jointly develop a branded Premium Outlet Center in Pudong, Shanghai, China.

Simon Property Group is the world's largest developer, owner and operator of outlet shopping centers, with interests in 70 Premium Outlet Centers located in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Philadelphia -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said that it has promoted Mark E. Taylor to first VP investments.

Most recently, Taylor held the title of VP investments. He specializes in the sale of retail shopping centers and net-leased property investment real estate.

Woodbridge, N.J. -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Burlington Coat Factory has leased 78,303 sq. ft. at Woodbridge Crossing Shopping Center in Woodbridge, N.J.

Burlington Coat Factory, scheduled to open later this year, will be occupying the former The Great Indoors, which closed several years ago.