Development/Redevelopment

Denver -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is announcing the grand opening of its newest Texas location in the new Town Square Shopping Center in Wichita Falls. The store opens for business on Dec. 5.

"We invite the Wichita Falls community to come in see what we're about," said Kemper Isely, Natural Grocers co-president. “While they are here, shoppers can also pick up some practical ideas for healthy eating during one of our free cooking demonstrations, or take part in a free nutritional education seminar."

Montclair, Calif. — Gold’s Gym has announced the opening of a location in the newly remodeled Montclair Plaza in Montclair, Calif. The new location will join 11 existing Gold’s Gym Southern California franchise locations. Slated to open April 1, 2014, the 40,000-sq.-ft. facility will feature GGX group exercise offerings, cardio equipment with iPod docking stations, a steam room, Cardio Cinema, towel service, an indoor pool, Jacuzzi and more.

Other recent arrivals at Montclair Plaza include Mina Shoes, Fly and Xtreme.

New York -- Dunkin’ Donuts is the chain with the most locations in New York City, operating 515 stores across the five boroughs, according to The Center for an Urban Future’s sixth annual “State of the Chains” study. Subway is the second largest national retailer in the city with 467 locations. Rounding out the top ten are: Duane Reade/Walgreens (with 318 stores), Starbucks (283), MetroPCS (261), McDonalds (240), Baskin Robbins (202), Rite Aid (190), T-Mobile (161) and GNC (138).

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- Krispy Kreme has signed a development agreement with Dulce Restaurants, LLC, to develop 10 new Krispy Kreme shops in Houston over the next five years.

Dulce Restaurants, LLC, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Sun Holdings, LLC, currently operates three Krispy Kreme locations in Dallas, and has plans to open an additional 15 Dallas shops through 2018.

New York City has seen an influx of new retail this past year. Everyone has their favorites. Here are mine:

•  Alexander McQueen: The British fashion brand’s new Upper East Side flagship boasts a lavish design that is both strange and utterly romantic, with an attention to detail that mirrors McQueen’s signature stylings. Marble and ornate moldings, black marble floors, black lacquer and brass hanging racks are combined with a soft color palette. (747 Madison Ave.)

Location: Cincinnati

Size: 1.1 million sq. ft.

Developer: Co-developed by Steiner + Associates and Bucksbaum Retail Properties
Major tenants: Dillard’s Department Store, CineBistro, a 135-room hotel, 220 luxury residential units and 100,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Status: Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2014 with the opening scheduled for summer 2015.

Location: Thornwood, N.Y., in Westchester County    

Size: 20,175 sq. ft. 

Developer: DLC Management Corp.    

Major tenants: Walgreens    

Status: Complete    

Real estate’s role in portfolio optimization

Real estate plays a key role in optimizing retail store portfolios. Stores must have enough square footage but never too much. Portfolios must also match the number of stores across regions to customer demand. 

“Portfolio optimization means reducing or adding store square footage and matching merchandising and inventory to customer demand in a trade area,” said Kenneth Katz, principal with Houston-based Baker Katz.