Development/Redevelopment

Upscale kitchen, bath and outdoor appliance retailer Pirch has opened its largest location to date, a three-floor, 32,000-sq.-ft. flagship in an historic, former ironworks building in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.     

A job fair held in New York this week attracted veterans and their family members looking to fill retail positions at the Westfield World Trade Center mall set to open in August. Some 5,000 attended to apply for some 10,000 positions expected to open there and at Fulton Center in the two months.  

Racine, Wisconsin’s planning commission has overturned the local Regency Mall’s policy to suit the signage requirements of new retailers there, according to a report in The Journal Times.   When J.C. Penney closed its doors at the CBL & Associates-owned mall, the vacant space was favorably distributed among three new tenants. All three, however, had issues with the space allotment for their signs.   

The Enclave Shops at Coral Ridge outside of Fort Lauderdale is complete and its Fresh Market anchor has opened its doors. Its developer, Stiles, partnered with local businessman Phil Smith to build the surrounding residential community, The Enclave at Coral Ridge Country Club.   The Fresh Market has been a draw to other prospective retail tenants at the 27,300-sq.-ft. center, according to Stiles VP of realty Mike Carpenter.    

New Century Commons, a shopping center in Delray Beach, Florida, has been purchased by Menin Development for $33 million, according to a report in the Sun Sentinel.

Seller of the 84,551-sq.-ft. center was Linton 510 LLC, which faced uncertainty over the future of one of its anchors, Sports Authority, which filed for bankruptcy in March. Questions about cash flow going forward complicated the closing of the sale, though a Menin spokesman told the South Florida newspaper that several retailers have inquired about the Sports Authority space.

Newk’s Eatery is on the move.   The fast-casual restaurant chain is expanding into Central Florida, with plans to open 10-12 corporate-owned locations in the Orlando area over the next five years. The expansion is part of the company’s long-term goal to open more than 200 locations by 2018.     Construction is underway on the first Orlando-area restaurant in the Waterford Oaks shopping center, owned by BluRock Development. It is slated to open in mid-August.     

Photo: Jeff Rubin, Founder, CEO, It’Sugar (Credit: Patrick Gray, Kabik Photo Group)   Jeff Rubin, founder and CEO of It’Sugar, has always had a sweet tooth — and a passion for retail. His father owned a chain of toy stores in the Midwest. After leaving the toy business, he went on to open a chain of bulk candy stores.  

Toms Shoes is expanding its fledgling store portfolio, and will open a location at Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, in time for holiday shoppers.   Founded in 2006, Toms matches every shoe purchase with a donation to a child in need, and gives glasses, medical treatment and/or sight-saving surgery with each purchase of eyewear.