Development/Redevelopment

Yonkers, N.Y. -- Tom Rettaliata of Ripco Real Estate leased 13,840 sq. ft. to Darden Concepts in the Cross County Shopping Center located at 8000 Mall Walk in Yonkers, New York.

The area previously used for parking is now occupied by two freestanding restaurants: Olive Garden (7,448 sq. ft.) and Longhorn Steakhouse (6,392 sq. ft.). Olive Garden opened on October 27, 2014, and Longhorn Steakhouse opened on November 17, 2014.

The landlord, Brooks Shopping Center LLC, was represented by Guy Mercurio of Macerich.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. announced the appointment of John Griffith to its board of directors. Griffith fills the unexpired term of Tom DeRosa, resulting from his retirement from CBL's board effective Jan. 7.

Griffith served as executive VP of property development for Target Corporation until his retirement in May 2014. He joined Target in 1999, and played an instrumental role in its expansion and the development of new store prototypes and formats.

Miami Gardens, Fla. -- Palmetto Park, the owner of Palmetto Gardens Plaza, announced that its new anchor tenant Walmart Neighborhood Store has opened. The new store occupies 40,000 sq. ft. of the 63,000-sq.-ft. shopping center, located at 3799 NW 167th St. in Miami Gardens.

Palmetto Gardens Plaza will also feature T-Mobile, Cell Phone Repair, and Lee Nails, among other retailers, when construction on the remaining portion of the plaza is complete by the third quarter of this year.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin' Donuts has signed the largest development agreement in the company's history with the goal of expanding Dunkin' Donuts in China. The retailer plans to open more than 1,400 new stores across China in the next 20 years.

Nashville, Tenn. --H.G. Hill Realty Company announced a lineup of tenants at Hill Center Acklen, the Nashville mixed-use development that includes approximately 13,000 sq. ft. of street-level restaurant and retail located at 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue in Hillsboro Village.

Atlanta --  The Shopping Center Group announced its continued expansion with the addition of a California brokerage team of industry veterans. The move across the Mississippi River marks the firm’s first foray into western United States. Located in Santa Barbara, the new office opened Dec. 1.

“The acquisition of this team is a big step in The Shopping Center Group’s pursuit of a national footprint," said chairman and Co-CEO David Birnbrey.

Macy’s announced a series of major operational and merchandising moves to accelerate its omnichannel approach while also releasing solid holiday sales.

New York – Retail mall vacancies slightly rose in the fourth quarter of 2014, from 7.9% in the prior quarter to 8%. According to real estate research firm Reis Inc., the closure of 200-plus Sears stores during the year drove the increase, the first recorded since the third quarter of 2011.

Hackettstown, N.J. -- Marshalls has leased 21,675 sq. ft. at Mansfield Commons in Hackettstown, New Jersey, according to center owner National Realty & Development Corp., Purchase, New York.

The 271,980-sq.-ft. Mansfield Commons is anchored by Walmart and Kohl’s, and is located on Route 57.

Leonard Lieberman, former chairman and CEO of Supermarkets General, which owns Pathmark, died at his home in Hoboken, N.J., on Jan. 2, according to an obituary on NJ.com. He was 85.

According to the obituary, his wife, Arlene, said the cause of death was heart failure.