Development/Redevelopment

British retailer John Lewis has opened one of its largest department stores ever, in the just-opened Grand Central shopping center in Birmingham.

The four-level, 250,000-sq.-ft. department store has a strikingly contemporary design and features several new services and concepts, including a new fashion and lifestyle department, loved&found, and the first John Lewis-branded spa, &Beauty. There is also a market stall-styled food offering, The Place to Eat.

It’s been a busy fall for hip eyewear marketer Warby Parker.

The company opened its first permanent location in Washington, D.C., in the Georgetown section.

The 1,230-sq.-ft. store features Warby Parker’s signature classic library design, with custom brass library lamps, suspended globe lighting, chevron wood flooring, walnut shelving, and banquette seating for reading and relaxing.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners announced the purchase of Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, Florida, which will be added to Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund. The 123,000 sq. ft. shopping center is currently 98% occupied and is anchored by Publix and also includes Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree.

Photos: Dalziel & Pow, London

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced the addition of Vic Pildes as senior VP of development and anchor leasing. In this role, Pildes will be responsible for development and municipal related activities for new projects, assist in the identification of new acquisition opportunities and lead anchor leasing efforts throughout Cullinan’s portfolio.

Ikea continues its commitment to renewable energy with the opening of its store in St. Louis.

The 380,000-sq.-ft. store, the Swedish company’s first in the state of Missouri and 41st in the United States, features the largest rooftop solar array in the state of Missouri.

It is also the first Ikea location in the United States that is lit entirely with LEDs, both inside and out. It is also the first to open with LED lighting for sale.

To date, Ikea has a renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.

Bealls Inc., the 100-year-old privately held operator of over 530 stores, is expanding its retail footprint with a new specialty store format, Bunulu.

Focused on the coastal lifestyle and targeted at outdoor and youth-minded shoppers, the new concept has a more upmarket vibe than Bealls’ other banners. It premiered at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida. Two additional locations — at St. Johns Town Center, Jacksonville, Florida, and The Garden Mall, Palm Beach, Florida — are set to open by the end of this year.

Location: Doral, Florida

Size: 600,000 sq. ft.

Owner: The Related Group, Related Development LLC, Shoma Homes

Key Tenants: Fresh Market, CinéBistro-Cobb Theatre, Kings Bowling

Other uses/components: 1,000 new luxury residences

Status: Under construction, set for completion Q4 2016