Development/Redevelopment

Chicago -- Sears Holdings Corp. has tapped former Rouse Properties COO Benjamin Schall to lead new Sears REIT Seritage Growth Properties. The real estate investment trust was formed by Sears to buy some of its stores and generate $2.5 billion in cash.

Schall’s appointment is effective May 4. He spent three years as COO of publicly traded REIT Rouse, overseeing operations of 35 malls in 21 states.  

Columbus, Ohio -- Footwear big-box retailer DSW will open stores in Michigan, California, and Washington State this month.

A 20,000-sq.-ft. store will open April 30 at Pirate’s Plaza in Flint, Michigan, representing the 10th DSW store in the Detroit market.

In Bakersfield, California, DSW will open an 18,000-sq.-ft. store at Shops at River Walk, also on April 30. The Shops at River Walk store marks the company’s first in Bakersfield.

Volatile demand for firearms seems to be easing at Cabela’s, which reported a profit rise of 6.9% in the first quarter despite a drop in same store sales.

Peoria, Ill. - P.F. Chang’s will be coming to the mixed-use Streets of St. Charles development in St. Charles, Missouri. The restaurant, which will be P.F. Chang’s first location in St. Charles County, will feature an Asian-inspired decor and offer outdoor bistro seating along the pedestrian-friendly streetscape.

Construction is expected to begin summer 2015, with an anticipated opening in early 2016.

Jericho, N.Y. - Orangetheory Fitness, a fitness studio that uses heart-rate monitoring technology and interval training to improve and increase the workout experience, is expanding in Long Island. The fitness studio’s upcoming New York expansion includes Syosset at the Syosset Corners Shopping Center and in Melville in Melville.

The Tile Shop had good results for its first fiscal quarter of 2015, with double-digit sales growth and steady progress in other key areas. But with the housing market rebounding, one may wonder why sales weren't even stronger.

Baltimore -- Pandora Jewelry, in collaboration with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has opened dedicated shops within two Disney merchandise locations: Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and La Mascarade d'Orleans in Disneyland park in California.

Both locations carry Pandora’s newly released spring 2015 Disney jewelry collection and the Disney Parks collection, as well as the brand’s full assortment of jewelry.

In an article that appeared in National Real Estate Investor (NREI) Online on April 10, author Elaine Misonzhnik describes the recent store closure announcements from Walgreens and Pier 1 as part of a larger pattern of retailers “pursuing portfolio optimization and an omnichannel approach.” While I generally agree with that statement — and with the notion that increasing pressure from online sales growth is contributing to a more competitive brick-and-mortar environment — I was reminded once again of just how different the dynamics behind store closings can be.