Development/Redevelopment

Kansas City, Mo. -- Block Real Estate Services said it has opened an office in Atlanta, to provide asset, property, and construction management services to its current portfolio of commercial properties located in the Atlanta-metropolitan area.

Bert Calvert will oversee the operations for BRES in Atlanta.  
 

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Robert K. Futterman & Associates said it has doubled its Los Angeles office space to accommodate a now 10-person team.

Robert Cohen has been promoted to president of the Southern California division and Rachel Rosenberg has been promoted to executive VP, now overseeing all Southern California operations for the firm.
 

Macon, Ga. -- Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Storey Gibson Cos. announced that Smok’n Pig BBQ will open a new restaurant at Macon Mall, located in Macon, Ga.

Macon Mall is preparing to launch a major redevelopment and renovation that will add, expand and relocate the tenant mix. The new restaurant will complete construction this fall and employ up to 150 people.
 

Like many of you, I just got back from RECon, and I’m still processing what I saw and heard. One thing that was interesting to me was the fact that it seemed like burger concepts were on everybody’s site plans, from In-N-Out Burger to Smashburger and Five Guys. If you like a good burger -- and, who doesn’t -- this is great news. If you are a developer or landlord though, I think you should proceed with some caution.

“The economic model of Outlet is the highest return on capital and is where customers gravitate," Gap CEO Glenn Murphy said at an investment conference in New York City, where he revealed the company will close 200 U.S. Gap stores and expand its outlet base.

But don’t expect the stores to be filled with last year’s castoffs.

"I don't want them bringing stripes in the stores if stripes are last year's idea,” Murphy said.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Ahead of the upcoming Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas, Disney Consumer Products chairman Andy Mooney showcased the companies plans to expand its retail presence. According to Mooney, who was speaking at a media presentation, sales of Disney-branded merchandise have grown at a compounded rate of 12% per annum over the last 10 years. 

As part three of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Joe Boehm, senior VP, retail leasing, of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, regarding his impressions of RECon 2011 and what Forest City projects garnered the most attention at the show.

What impression of the state of the industry were you left with by the end of RECon 2011?

Investment sales volume of significant retail properties totaled $5.8 billion in the first quarter of 2011, up an astounding 53% from the same period in 2010. It is important to also note that the number of properties traded increased at a slower pace – by 25% – which means that properties are trading at comparatively higher prices.

Per-square-foot pricing, at $167, is at its highest level in two years and 31% higher than the trough in second quarter 2010. Cap rates are at their lowest level since 1980 ending the quarter at 7.6%.

The number of planned store closures at Talbot’s was bumped to 110 units recently when the company reported disappointing first-quarter results and indicated most of the underperforming units would close during the second half of the year.

As part of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Andy Graiser, co-president of DJM Realty, a Gordon Brothers Group company, based in Melville, N.Y., about his key takeaways from RECon 2011.

Now that RECon 2011 has drawn to a close and we are all settling back into our daily work routines, what are your key takeaways from this year’s show?