Development/Redevelopment

Austin, Texas -- GBT Realty Corp. announced its acquisition of a prime retail site in the heart of one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas and the U.S. Located in Cedar Park, Texas – a community that has grown over 400% since 2004 – Lakeline Commons is a 1.43-acre site that is shadow-anchored by Target and adjacent to The Home Depot.  

GBT acquired the north Austin outparcel for $1.6 million on March 19 from Regions Bank.  No additional terms are available.

New York -- Legendary Manhattan off-price retailer Century 21 will open its first store outside its Northeast home base, at Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise, Florida. The 85,000-sq.-ft. store is set to open in the fall of 2016.

New York -- Prospects for stellar rent growth and low vacancy helped make San Francisco the top-ranked city, followed by New York, in Marcus & Millichap’s 2015 National Retail Index, an annual real estate ranking of 46 major U.S. markets. Rounding out the top five: San Jose (#3); Austin (#4) and San Diego (#5).

Recent completion of the $60 million power center Coastal North Town Center signaled the arrival of Myrtle Beach’s first Publix supermarket and Hobby Lobby store.

Tokyo – The Cool Japan Fund, a fund mostly supported by Japanese taxpayers and linked to Japan’s government, will reportedly invest $2.18 million in a chain of U.S. green tea cafes. According to Reuters, the Cool Japan Fund will take a 49.9% stake in Green Tea World USA Inc.

Green Tea World plans to open its first tea café in California later in 2015. The company intends to open 50 stores in California cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose in the next decade. Beverages will sell for $3 to $4 each.

New York -- Cabela’s is looking to grow its Canadian operations with a new store in British Columbia.

Cabela’s could begin construction in Abbotsford, B.C., this year, and could open in fall 2016. The proposed store site is located at 1880 McCallum Road in the newly planned McCallum Junction development off Exit 90 of Trans-Canada Highway 1. McCallum Junction Properties Inc. is the developer.

Cabela’s is growing its Canadian operations once again with a new store in British Columbia. 

Cabela’s could begin construction in Abbotsford, B.C., this year, and could open in fall 2016. The proposed store site is located at 1880 McCallum Road in the newly planned McCallum Junction development off Exit 90 of Trans-Canada Highway 1. McCallum Junction Properties Inc. is the developer.

U.K. toy retailer Hamleys has opened Europe’s largest toy store, a 73,000-sq.-ft. location close to the Kremlin in Moscow. Designed by Fitch, the two-level space is heavy on interaction and is divided into nine themed areas that combine retail and entertainment.