Development/Redevelopment

Miami -- New York City-based Robert K. Futterman & Associates announced that Marty Arrivo has joined the firm’s newly established Miami office as senior managing director.

With eight years of commercial real estate experience working with property owners and regional and national retailers, Arrivo, who started with RKF last month, is responsible for tenant and landlord representation throughout Florida and nationwide.

New York City -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with executives from six grocery chains, including Walgreen Co. Wal-Mart Stores and Aldi about eliminating food “deserts” in six Chicago neighborhoods, the Associated Press reported.

Emanuel showed a detailed map of Chicago food deserts and made business cases to the grocery executives for specific properties in each food desert area. He said 450,000 Chicagoan's don't have access to fresh food.

Atlanta -- Sandal retailer Flip Flop Shops announced Thursday it has signed its 100th franchisee agreement for a new store to be located in Universal Studios, Calif. The store will be followed by openings in Santa Monica and Las Vegas.

The announcement follows recent news about the growing chain’s master franchise deal for Canada, which will see units open across the country.

New Iberia, La. -- Centro Properties Group announced that T.J. Maxx recently opened a new 24,035-sq.-ft. store at Lagniappe Village, located in New Iberia, La.

New York City-based Centro owns the shopping center.

Tomball, Texas -- Houston-based commercial real estate brokerage Baker Katz said it has acquired the Four Corners Shopping Center in Tomball, Texas.

Baker Katz purchased the 120,000-sq.-ft. center through an investment fund dedicated to real estate development, acquisition and ownership. The center holds the last remaining big-box vacancy in Tomball, a 45,000-sq.-ft. former Kroger space. Baker Katz plans to begin a major renovation on the center later this year and will look to re-lease the space.

Greenville, S.C. -- Charlotte, N.C.-based The Chambers Group, an X Team partner, said it has completed a lease for the first REI in South Carolina.

The outdoor equipment retailer will join The Point shopping center, a Whole Foods-anchored property located in Greenville, S.C., and owned by Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty.

REI will occupy 22,000 sq. ft. of a former Circuit City space.
 

Walmart Canada president and CEO David Cheesewright is scheduled to speak next week at the Jefferies 2011 Global Consumer Conference near Boston. Walmart doesn’t typically push country presidents on stage at investor conferences except at its own analysts’ meetings when it has hosted events overseas in such places as China earlier this year or prior years in Brazil and the United Kingdom. However there are some interesting things going on in Canada these days, and the Jefferies event is an opportunity for Walmart to showcase some of its management talent.

Honolulu, Hawaii -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced Thursday it has named commercial real estate veteran Kirk Horiuchi as senior VP in its Retail Division.

In this newly created position, Horiuchi will oversee the company’s leased and managed portfolio, and will be tasked with growing the firm’s third-party retail business in Hawaii.