Deals

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.

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.

New York -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said that Select Comfort Corp., which operates the Sleep Number Store, has leased several new locations in and around New York City.

In Danbury, Conn., the company leased 2,580 sq. ft. at the Shops at Marcus Dairy, an 80,000-sq.-ft. shopping center tenanted by Whole Foods, Eastern Mountain Sports and Panera Bread.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.