Deals

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers has acquired Balboa Mesa Shopping Center, a 189,321-sq.-ft. infill shopping center anchored by a 42,247-sq.-ft. Vons grocery store.

Regency purchased the San Diego property for $59.5 million from Balboa Realty LLC.
 
Built in 1969, Balboa Mesa Shopping Center is also anchored by a 77,000-sq.-ft. Kohl’s and a 24,000-sq.-ft. CVS/pharmacy.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- SPL Realty Partners, exclusively representing Australian women’s activewear retailer Lorna Jane, announced 11 leases have been secured for Lorna Jane’s expansion into the United States.

The retail sites are located throughout the Southern California region including stores in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Irvine and Huntington Beach.

A warehouse was also secured for the support of the network of retail stores and online fulfillment in Santa Monica, Calif.

Westport, Conn. -- Charter Realty & Development said that it has arranged a 4,800-sq.-ft. lease for Panera Bread located in the Westport Plaza in Westport, Conn.  

The shopping center is anchored by Home Goods, Walgreens and Pet Supplies Plus. The deal was co-broked by RHYS commercial of Stamford.

In order to make room for Panera, Stride Rite and a nail salon will be relocated.
 

South Plainfield, N.J. -- Charter Realty said it has been selected to lease Oak Park Commons located in South Plainfield, N.J.
 
The single-story, 136,939-sq.-ft. community shopping center is anchored by A&P Supermarket in 60,025 sq. ft. and includes a mix of national, regional and local tenants.
 
Oak Park Commons is currently 76% occupied with 33,508 sq. ft. of available space.
 

Publix is making its North Carolina debut with the planned opening of a new store in the greater Charlotte area.

The company has signed a lease for a store at Providence Road West and Johnston Road in Ballantyne. The store will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

While Ballantyne marks Publix’s long awaited entry into North Carolina, the company is looking ahead to continued growth within the state and in its current operating areas of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Morrisville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. Inc. said Monday it has withdrawn its bid to purchase Canadian home-improvement retailer Rona Inc.

The $1.86 billion unsolicited acquisition proposal had earlier been rejected by Quebec-based Rona, which said the offer was not the best deal for its shareholders. The proposal generated discord among Rona’s dealer companies, many of whom threatened to sever their ties with Rona should Lowe’s succeed in its acquisition attempt.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens announced plans to close more than half of the stores it is acquiring in its deal with USA Drug.

The company — which said in July it would purchase the mid-South drug store chain for approximately $438 million — confirmed it would close approximately 76 stores across the region. USA Drug operates 144 stores under the USA Drug, Super D Drug, May's Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse banners.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot Inc. said Friday it will close its remaining seven big-box outlets in China and focus on Internet-based sales and specialty stores.