Deals

New York City -- Target Corp. plans to spend more than it had forecast this year on its entry into the Canadian market as it nails down more of the best retail locations sooner than expected.

The retailer said it will be able to “clarify” within weeks the number and locations of the first 100 to 150 stores it will open in Canada.

“We expect to close on higher value lease transactions sooner than expected,” Target CFO Doug Scovanner told analysts on a conference call Wednesday.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Shopping center owner and developer Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said Wednesday it will raze Terrell Plaza shopping center in San Antonio, Texas, and an existing two-story enclosed mall at Tamarac Square in Denver, Colo., to accommodate Target Corp.’s construction of two new stores.

DDR said it intends to redevelop adjacent retail space at both centers.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced that it has finalized its acquisition of five New Jersey Shore-area Foodtown supermarkets previously owned by Norkus Enterprises Inc. The transaction involves stores in Freehold Township, Manalapan, Neptune City, Point Pleasant Beach and Long Branch. Stop &Shop currently operates 10 stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Houston -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased space to two new restaurants in Houston at Fort Bend Center.

Baskin Robbins has leased 1,280 sq. ft., and The Fish Place has leased 1,380 sq. ft. of space. Both restaurants are slated to open in July.

The 97,000-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Kroger alongside national retailers such as LA Fitness, Starbucks, Wendy’s, and Cato.
 

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- GA Keen Realty Advisors, a division of Great American Group, has been retained to assist in the marketing and disposition of 70 leased properties across 21 states operated by Metropark, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Metropark’s retail properties, which range in size from 2,000 sq. ft. to 3,500 sq. ft., are concentrated in the West (California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas) and in the East (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida).

Newport Beach, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. said that Cole Real Estate Investments has selected members of the company’s Retail Group to lease Whittwood Town Center, a 686,211-sq.-ft. shopping center in Whittier, Calif.

Whittwood Town Center is approximately 97% leased, with national tenants including J.C. Penney, Target, Vons, Kohl’s, PetSmart, 24 Hour Fitness and Panera Bread.

Encino, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has promoted Bill Rose to director of the National Retail Group.

Rose joined Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office in September 2003 as a retail and multifamily investment specialist. He was promoted to senior associate in September 2006. He rejoined the firm in November 2009 as sales manager of the San Diego office and in November 2010 was named western regional director of the NRG.
 

Irvine, Calif. -- Passco Cos. LLC said it has purchased four CVS stores in sale-leaseback deals.
 
All four stores are newly constructed and recently opened by CVS, typical of the prototype for newer CVS retail/pharmacy stores. These features include drive-thru pharmacies, pick up stations, integration of CVS merchandise plans with interior design, and exterior signage modified to meet local ordinances.