Development/Redevelopment

NEW YORK — Manhattan-based retailer Duane Reade is expanding its footprint with a second distinct location in the historic American Surety building in the city’s Financial District.

New York -- Drugstore retailer Duane Reade, a division of Walgreens, is expanding its Manhattan footprint with a second distinct location in the city’s Financial District. The new, 22,000-sq.-ft. store boasts a number of amenities, and—in a first for a U.S. drug store—also features a museum-quality exhibit that pays tribute to the neighborhood and hallowed grounds of downtown Manhattan. 

Houston -- Ikea on Monday officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston. The installation, when combined with Ikea solar projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make the home furnishings retailer the state’s largest solar owner.

Foot Locker is debuting a new retail brand, The Locker Room, in the United Kingdom. The format was unveiled at the end of 2011, in Brent Cross Shopping Centre, North London. Two additional stores opened in spring 2012, in Birmingham’s Bullring shopping center, and in London’s Lakeside center.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports announced plans to build a wholesaling and logistics facility in Alabaster, Ala.

Construction on the new 360,000-sq.-ft. center is expected to commence in fall 2012 with the facility expected to be fully operational by fall 2014. When completed, it will replace the existing 180,000-sq.-ft. facility that the company currently leases in Birmingham.
 

New York -- Ikea has been rebuffed by India on a request to relax rules on buying goods locally, Reuters reported, citing a government source. The rebuff is likely to delay Ikea’s entry into the Indian retail market.

In June, Ikea said it would invest approximately $1.86 billion and open 25 stores in India. But the chain was seeking a 10-year window to comply with India’s rule that foreign retailers source 30% from local small and medium-sized firms. The requirement is seen by overseas companies as a hindrance to investment.

Greensboro, N.C. -- High-end grocer The Fresh Market is making a stand in California, as it prepares to open its first three stores in the state.

According to a Tuesday report by Investor’s Business Daily, Fresh Market has signed leases and begun construction on one store in Santa Barbara, one in Palo Alto and a third in Roseville. The grocer said it expects to open its first store in the state either late this year or early 2013.

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that video game retailer Play N Trade has opened a 1,712-sq.-ft. store at Moorestown Mall, located in Moorestown, N.J.

Moorestown Mall is a 1 million-sq.-ft. enclosed regional shopping mall anchored by Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and Boscov’s.
 

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that Ten Thousand Villages will open a new trade fair location at The Village at Towne Centre, near Fredericksburg, Va.

The 2,700-sq.-ft. store is located between Books-A-Million and Aveda Tulips SalonSpa, and is slated to open in September.

The Village at Towne Centre is the outdoor shopping district of Spotsylvania Towne Centre, a 1.7 million-sq.-ft. complex offering more than 120 department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues.
 

Fort Worth, Texas -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said that drycleaner The Laundry will open at the mixed-use development West 7th, located in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 963-sq.-ft. shop is slated to open later this year.

West 7th’s retail and office components are being developed by a Cypress Equities company and the residential component by Columbus Realty Partners.