Development/Redevelopment

Albany, Ore. -- Vintage Real Estate said that it has signed a lease with Hobby Lobby for a 61,000-sq.-ft. store at the Heritage Mall, marking the arts-and-crafts retailer’s first location in Oregon.

Hobby Lobby will be located in a former Gottschalks space.  It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. “Our ability to quickly fill this long-vacant space is a major step in the execution of our renovation and repositioning plans for Heritage Mall,” said general manager Betsy Penson.

New York -- The International Council of Shopping Centers announced that David J. LaRue, president and CEO of Forest City Enterprises, has been elected by ICSC’s Board of Trustees to serve as the association’s chairman for the 2013–2014 term.  

LaRue assumed his role as chairman on May 20 during RECon, ICSC’s annual meeting in Las Vegas.  He succeeds Brad Hutensky, president and principal of Hutensky Capital Partners.

Milwaukee -- Chicago-based HSA Commercial joined leaders from the City of Wauwatosa to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase I of The Mayfair Collection, a large-scale, mixed-use development at Highway 45 and Burleigh Street in suburban Milwaukee.

Phase I of the project will consist of adaptively repurposing functionally obsolete warehouse buildings along Highway 45 into new, contemporary retail environments.

New York -- MPI has reported a significant increase in leasing volume within its core retail portfolio during the first four months of 2013 vs. the same period last year.

As of May 1, MPI has executed 23 new lease deals, many with new to the market tenants, representing a total of 113,900 sq. ft. throughout its national retail portfolio.  

On a year-over-year basis, the company has seen the number of new leases grow by 28%.
 

Irvine, Calif. -- KTGY Group announced that Hutton Cos. has launched construction on La Verne Village, a 172-unit mixed-use residential and retail community in La Verne, Calif., located in the San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles.

Situated on the site of a former automobile dealership on 7.69 acres, the La Verne Village luxury apartment homes are integrated within the village-center court, complete with more than 15,000 sq. ft. of integrated retail shopping and dining.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Beachwood, Ohio-based DDR Corp. has announced the opening of Belgate Shopping Center, the company's first ground-up domestic development in over four years.

Belgate is a 100% leased, 900,000-sq.-ft. prime power center located in Charlotte, N.C., anchored by Ikea, Walmart and a complimentary lineup of junior anchors including Marshalls, Ulta, Old Navy, Petco, Cost Plus World Market, Hobby Lobby and Shoe Carnival.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express overcame the spring chill and a difficult retail environment, reporting net sales of $508 million for the first quarter ended May 4, a 3% increase from $496 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Comparable sales were flat following a 4% comparable sales increase in last year's first quarter. This includes e-commerce sales, which increased 48% to $71 million. In last year's first quarter, e-commerce sales grew 28% to $48 million.

Toronto -- Loft, a division of Ann Inc., is expanding in Canada, with four new stores by the end of fall 2013.

Loft entered Canada last November, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. The chain will open a store in Toronto Eaton Centrer, Toronto, in late May, followed by additional units at Lime Ridge Mall in Hamilton in July, Markville Shopping Centre in Markham in August and Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga in October.

Melville, N.Y. -- Sbarro is expanding its international growth with plans to open 20 eateries in Ontario, Canada. This announcement is the latest in a series of franchise agreements that have recently expanded Sbarro's presence across Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia and the Pacific.

Greensboro, N.C. -- The Fresh Market Inc. grew net income, same-store sales and net sales during first quarter 2013. Net income rose 14% to $22.1 million, from $19.3 million in the prior year.

Net sales jumped 13% to $366.6 million.