Deals

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.— Sears quietly added all nine of its Great Indoors stores to the list of store closings on Feb. 23.

Store managers were informed last week, a Sears spokeswoman confirmed, but no exact date has been given for the closings.

The upscale remodeling and home décor stores began opening in 1998, long before the Sears and Kmart merger. At one point, Sears operated 20 of the units, but they were never a big moneymaker for the company.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Transwestern announced the renewal of a multi-year, $4.69 million lease of a 53,164-sq.-ft. office space for Anna’s Linens in Costa Mesa’s Harbor Gateway Business Park.
 
The office will continue to be used by Anna’s Linens as its corporate headquarters.

“We are very pleased to maintain our headquarters here in Orange County, where the company was born,” said Alan Gladstone, chairman and CEO of Anna’s Linens.

Dallas -- Edge Realty Partners has announced the launch of Edge Realty Capital Markets, which will focus on the investment sales of retail, multi-family and healthcare properties.

Brandon Beeson and Mart Martindale will lead Edge Capital Markets as principals. Steven Smith is also joining the firm as an executive VP.

Beeson previously was senior director with Berkadia where he focused on representing owners in sale of retail assets.