Deals

San Francisco -- At an investor conference on Thursday, Gap CEO Glenn Murphy announced the company will close 200 of its 900 U.S. namesake stores even as it expands its outlet presence.

While the company did not identify which stores will close, Gap said the 200 Gap brand closures over the next two years will be accompanied by a push to expand its Gap Outlet and Banana Republic factory chains.

As part three of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Joe Boehm, senior VP, retail leasing, of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, regarding his impressions of RECon 2011 and what Forest City projects garnered the most attention at the show.

What impression of the state of the industry were you left with by the end of RECon 2011?

Investment sales volume of significant retail properties totaled $5.8 billion in the first quarter of 2011, up an astounding 53% from the same period in 2010. It is important to also note that the number of properties traded increased at a slower pace – by 25% – which means that properties are trading at comparatively higher prices.

Per-square-foot pricing, at $167, is at its highest level in two years and 31% higher than the trough in second quarter 2010. Cap rates are at their lowest level since 1980 ending the quarter at 7.6%.

Enfield, Conn. -- Centro Properties Group announced a 13,865-sq.-ft. lease has been executed with Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts at Freshwater-Stateline Plaza, located in Enfield, Conn.

New York City-based Centro Properties Group is the owner of Freshwater-Stateline Plaza.
 

New York City -- Winick Realty Group LLC said that luxury luggage retailer Mitsosa Group has leased its second Manhattan location at 40 East 55th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

The 1,150-sq.-ft. store is expected to open in late summer or early fall, and will feature 35 feet of frontage on 55th Street.

According to Winick, the retailer is looking at other tourist-driven areas throughout Manhattan with plans to open three stores within the next 18 months.

Mohegan Lake, N.Y. -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said that it negotiated a 7,210-sq.-ft. lease for Five Below at Cortlandt Town Center in Mohegan Lake, NY.

The new store opened in September 2010.
 

Pelham Manor, N.Y. -- Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners said it has negotiated an 8,280-sq.-ft. lease for Five Below at Pelham Manor Shopping Center in Westchester County, N.Y.

The new store opened in April.

Plano, Texas --- The Weitzman Group/Cencor Realty Services said that Just Fitness 4 U has leased 21,577 sq. ft. of anchor space in Spring Creek Marketplace, a shopping center located in Plano, Texas, for its fifth Dallas/Ft. Worth location.

Just Fitness 4 U, which currently operates locations in Dallas, Carrollton, Mesquite and Hurst, also operates in key markets such as Atlanta and Salt Lake City.