Deals

Newtown, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. announced that it has been named the exclusive leasing representative for Plaza South, located in Newtown, Conn.

The plaza is currently fully occupied, and Charter Realty will be responsible for leasing a new 22,500-sq.-ft. building coming on line at the end of August.

Current tenants include The Meat House, Union Savings Bank, The Learning Experience and Cork’n Barrel.

Gaylord, Mich. -- Birmingham, Mich.-based commercial real estate development firm Robert B. Aikens & Associates LLC announced Wednesday that it has acquired the Pine Ridge Square center, located in Gaylord, Mich.

At 189,000 sq. ft., Pine Ridge Square is home to Big Lots, Dunham’s, Bath & Body Works, GNC and Payless Shoe Source. The center currently has 30,000 sq. ft. available for lease.
 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores ended unsuccessfully because the company could not agree with Borders on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced, the company announced Monday.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Books-A-Million said late Monday that it was unable to put a deal together to acquire the leases and assets of 30 Borders bookstores out of bankruptcy.

"The company’s efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores has ended unsuccessfully because the parties could not agree on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced," Clyde B. Anderson, Books-A-Million CEO, said.

New Milford, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has arranged a lease for 28,000 sq. ft. for a HomeGoods store in the Kohls Plaza, located in New Milford, Conn.

HomeGoods will be a part of Litchfield Crossings, which is a new, 282,000-sq.-ft. development that is being built by Scalzo Realty.

Katy, Texas -- Houston-based developer Vista Equities Group reports a rise in lease activity and interest for its mixed-use town center development in Katy, Texas – LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. The remaining 3,100 sq. ft. of phase one retail space and almost 6,000 sq. ft. of existing office space has been leased.

New retailers include Another Round and Flip Flop Shop. Businesses relocating or adding locations in LaCenterra include Amerejuve Med Spa, Retina Consultants of Houston and Eventsia Group.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Costa Mesa, Calif.-based shopping center developer Donahue Schriber announced it has successfully completed the final piece of a $1.2 billion balance sheet recapitalization.

The recapitalization occurred through several transactions.  The final piece was a $365 million refinance with a bank syndicate led by Bank of America and also included Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, PNC Bank, Union Bank and City National Bank. 

Dallas -- Venture Commercial Real Estate announced the completion of several transactions that will bring new Carl’s Jr. restaurants to Garland, Balch Springs, Lufkin, and Beaumont, Texas, by the end of the year.

With the addition of these four locations owned and operated by RWJP Star Enterprises, the total number of Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Texas will be 48.

Presque Isle, Maine -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has arranged a lease for 25,000 sq. ft. for a T.J. Maxx store in the Aroostook Center Mall in Presque Isle, Maine.

T.J. Maxx will join Lowes, Sears, J.C. Penney and others in this project. This 525,000-sq.-ft. center is owned by Sitt Assett Management.

Charter Realty currently represents TJX Cos. for their T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, Marshalls Shoes and HomeGoods divisions in various markets throughout the Northeast.
 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million announced the company has submitted a bid in the Borders Inc. bankruptcy proceedings to purchase, among other things, the inventory, fixtures, equipment, and leasehold interests for 30 Borders locations. Under the proposed bid, Books-A-Million will assume the leases for these locations and continue to operate these stores.

Borders Group on Thursday won court approval to liquidate its remaining 399 stores.