Development/Redevelopment

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced it has officially opened its Levee District at East Peoria Downtown, in Peoria, Ill.

Joining anchor stores Costco, Target, Gordmans, ULTA Beauty and Ross Dress for Less at the shopping center are Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, both slated to open this summer.

GNC will open a new store on May 8 at The Levee District, which encompasses over 86 acres that will include 500,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space, as well as office, hotel and civic components.

Dublin, Ohio -- The Wendy's Co. announced Tuesday an agreement with The Eljuri Group to develop 20 Wendy's restaurants in Ecuador.

As the largest business group in Ecuador, Eljuri said it expects to open the first two Wendy's locations in 2013 in Guayaquil, a coastal city with a population of 2.3 million people.  

Washington, D.C. -- The Rappaport Cos. and Principal Real Estate Investors announced a joint venture to acquire retail assets throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  

The program launched with the recapitalization of approximately 1 million sq. ft. of retail space in four retail centers located in Northern Virginia.  

Colton, Calif. -- The Hodgdon Group announced that it has completed construction of the conversion of a former Babies "R" Us building at Eastland Center in West Covina, Calif., for the opening of an Ashley Furniture HomeStore on March 15.

Hodgdon Group's HMC Construction handled all entitlements and served as the design-build contractor for the major renovation of the 42,000-sq.-ft. freestanding building. The West Covina location, in Eastland Center, represents the 15th Ashley Furniture HomeStore to be completed by the Hodgdon Group.

Atlanta -- Global Franchise Group announced Tuesday a master franchise agreement with Western Brands PVT for the opening of the first Marble Slab Creamery locations in the country of Pakistan.

The deal calls for the development of 10 Marble Slab Creamery stores in Pakistan over a 10-year period, with the 5,000 sq. ft. flagship store opening up in the major city of Lahore, Pakistan.

Marble Slab Creamery is managed by GFG Management, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group.

Middletown, N.Y. -- National Realty & Development Corp. said that Chipotle Mexican Grill will join Orange Plaza with a new 4,625-sq.-ft. store.

Orange Plaza is an 815,000-sq.-ft. power center located in Middletown, N.Y. and anchored by Walmart Supercenter, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Staples.

Edgewater, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that T.J. Maxx’s HomeGoods will open a 24,000-sq.-ft. anchor store at Edgewater Harbor, in Edgewater, N.J.

Orlando, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects said Tuesday it has been awarded contracts to design three Ale House restaurants — in Winter Park, Fla., Queens, N.Y., and the Philadelphia area.

The restaurants average 10,000 sq. ft. each.