Deals

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- A report released Monday by the Associated Press said that Sears Holdings Corp. would be spinning off its Hometown and Outlet stores, along with some hardware stores, into a separate, publicly traded company.

Earlier this year, Sears had revealed it would split the companies but had not indicated the new organization would be a separate public entity.

There are approximately 1,238 Hometown, Outlet and hardware stores. Five Hometown stores have been closed, along with eight hardware stores and one Outlet unit.

Houston -- Real estate brokerage Baker Katz, an X Team International partner, announced it has acquired 310 West 19th Street in The Heights neighborhood of Houston.

The freestanding building has 4,120 sq. ft. of space and is currently occupied by Southern Dental.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced two new hires in the Houston office.

Scott Gardner and Chris Pitts have both joined the team as VPs.Both joined SRS from UCR Moody Rambin Page.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber announced the acquisition of its third grocery-anchored shopping center in the last two months. The company reported the close of escrow on Del Mar Heights Village Center in San Diego County, Calif., which follows the acquisitions of Four Corners Shopping Center in Washington State and Bonita Centre, also in San Diego County.

Elmwood Park, N.J. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has promoted David E. Thurston to associate VP investments.

Most recently, Thurston held the title of senior associate in the New Jersey office. He began his career at Marcus & Millichap in 1999 as the regional manager of the New Jersey office.

DALLAS and ATLANTA — The Home Depot bolstered its home improvement selection with the acquisition of U.S. Home Systems, a manufacturer of kitchen, bathroom and other remodeling products, as well as storage organization systems for closets and garages. Currently, USHS serves as the exclusive provider of kitchen and bath refacing products and services as well as closet and garage organizational systems to The Home Depot.

NEW YORK — Harwood Feffer LLP, a law firm that represents investors and investment groups, announced that it is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Best Buy, concerning whether the board is fulfilling its fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with an offer from the company's founder and former CEO, Richard Schulze, to take the company private.

New York -- Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group said that Italian accessories retailer Mariana Antinori will open a luxury store – the brand’s first in New York -- at 1242 Madison Avenue, between 89th and 90th Streets.

Nearby are Jacadi, Rachel Riley, Baby Cottons and Brooks Brothers, as well as Armani Jr., Robert Marc, Christopher Fischer Cashmere, Malia Mills and Pink Chicken 'Tween.