Development/Redevelopment

Columbia, S.C. -- Shopping center owner Edens & Avant said Wednesday that an expanded new Publix will open Sept. 2012 at Sunshine Square retail center in Boynton Beach, Fla.

The centerpiece of the multi-million dollar redevelopment, the new 54,000-sq.-ft. Publix will be more integrated into the overall center, one aspect of a larger plan to improve shopper circulation that also includes enhanced vehicular and pedestrian access.

The existing Publix store is scheduled to close Sept. 24.

New York City -- Express said Thursday that it has opened its first Canadian location, a 10,000-sq.-ft. store at Fairview Mall in Toronto.

The retailer said it plans to open a total six stores in Canada by the end of 2011, and an additional 50 stores across the country over the next five years.

In November, Express will have three locations opening in Calgary at Southcentre, Chinook Centre and Market Mall as well as an additional store in Toronto at Square One.

When Quincy, Mass.’s new downtown shopping district is officially unveiled, the City will host some of America’s premier retail destinations — thanks to a first-of-its kind joint venture between Street-Works Development and National Realty and Development Corp., based in Purchase, N.Y.

The partnership was announced on Sept. 21 by the City of Quincy, Street-Works and NRDC.

CHICAGO — Walgreens is looking to roll out solar installations at its Ohio-area stores, thanks to a new partnership with a Chicago-based solar developer.

The retailer said that it selected SoCore Energy to provide 90 solar installations for the Ohio-based stores. The partnership began earlier this month with the construction of 20 solar installations at Walgreens stores in Cincinnati. Walgreens and SoCore Energy said that the first 53 solar installations is slated to be completed by Nov. 11.

New York City -- Macy's is reducing the size of its store in downtown Pittsburgh from nine floors of retail space to six (plus a mezzanine).

The company has been moving some departments to lower floors since early this year. The store will remain open during the renovations.

"The store is being reconfigured for better flow among departments, making shopping easier and more convenient," the company said in a statement.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports announced plans to open nine stores in October.

The locations are in Pine Bluff, Ark.; Louisville, Ky.; Ada and Grove, Okla.; Aiken, S.C.; Giddings and Nacogdoches, Texas; Grundy, Va.; and Hartford, Wis.
 

Chicago -- SoCore Energy has been chosen as the solar developer to assist Walgreens in completing one of the nation’s largest solar energy rollouts. Construction of the first 20 solar installations at Ohio-area Walgreens began earlier this month, at stores in Cincinnati.

SoCore Energy is under contract to provide 90 Ohio solar installations for Walgreens. The first 53 will be completed by Nov. 11, pushing Walgreens’ total number of solar sites to 136.

Walgreens will lease the arrays from SoCore for 10 years.

Chicago -- Commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates said it has added two senior VPs to its Chicago office.

Joseph Herron and Jason Sorce have both joined Lee & Associates Chicago as part of the firm’s expansion in the Midwest.

The firm also recently added Robyn Smart as a senior advisor in its Indianapolis office.

Herron joins Lee & Associates from Mid-America Real Estate Corp., where he spent 10 years as a retail broker. Sorce was previously with SRS Real Estate Partners and NAI Hiffman.

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- LandMark Retail Group, a subsidiary of NewMark Merrill Cos., has partnered with Accubranch, a strategic planning and market research group that specializes in providing real estate advice to the regional banking industry.

New Orleans -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced that The Fresh Market is coming to New Orleans. The retailer will lease the 24,000 sq.-ft., two-story building on St. Charles Avenue, in the city’s Garden District, which was previously occupied by Borders. 

This location will be The Fresh Market’s fourth in Louisiana with stores already in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Mandeville.