Development/Redevelopment

Boucherville, Quebec - Canadian home improvement retailer Rona Inc. is closing 11 non-profitable stores as part of a broader restructuring plan. Rona will also reduce administrative, marketing, merchandising and distribution expenses and eliminate 125 administrative jobs. In February 2013, Rona cut 200 jobs.

Rona rejected an unsolicited $1.72 billion USD buyout offer from Lowe’s in August 2012.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreen’s is planning to build a new store on the East Baltimore medical campus of Johns Hopkins University. The store will be developed according to the Walgreens Web Experience format and offer the retailer’s first in-store Take Care health clinic in the state of Maryland. Walgreen’s and Johns Hopkins announced a collaboration in May 2011.

Washington, D.C. -- Shake Shack has opened a new restaurant in Washington, D.C.’s Historic Row in The International Spy Museum, which is owned by Douglas Development Corp.

The 3,200 sq. ft. Shake Shack is the chain’s third Washington, D.C., restaurant.

New York -- The Lam Group has chosen Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) Retail and Hospitality Services to lease the 100,000-sq.-ft. retail portion of a mixed-use project in the NoMad neighborhood of New York City.

The 400,000-sq.-ft. project includes two 300-room hotels with meeting spaces, wellness facilities, multiple food and beverage outlets and retail space.

Lexington, Mass. - Stride Rite Children's Group has opened its latest “Milestone” concept store at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Milestone concept includes features such as shelves at varying heights so children can easily see all of the styles available, a dedicated “Fit Station” where children can get their feet measured and find out how tall they are by standing against the Fit Totem Pole, rainbow carpeting and a more open floor plan.

Minneapolis -- The Opus Group has completed construction of a 42,300-sq.-ft. store for outdoor retailer Gander Mountain in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Opus also constructed the Gander Mountain store in Valdosta, Ga., and provided construction management services for the store in Opelika, Ala. In addition, the retailer has awarded Opus a contract for a 45,600-sq.-ft. store in Albany, Ga.

Benicia, Calif. -- Cycle Gear Inc. opened its second Illinois store in Tinley Park, a suburb just south of Chicago.

The motorcycle apparel and accessories chain operates about 100 stores nationwide.

Randy Dewitt

CEO,

Front Burner Restaurants

HEADQUARTERS: Addison, Texas

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Casual-dining (Twin Peaks)

NUMBER OF UNITS: 36 Twin Peaks restaurants in 16 states