Development/Redevelopment

Laguna Hills, Calif. -- Vintage Real Estate announced that The Fresh Market will open at its neighborhood shopping center The Village at Nellie Gail Ranch in Laguna Hills, Calif., which is undergoing a $17 million renovation and expansion.  

The gourmet grocer will open a 21,000-sq.-ft. store in summer 2014.

The expansion and renovation of Village at Nellie Gail Ranch includes new facades, storefronts, refreshed landscaping and outdoor gathering spots. With the expansion, the center will total approximately 100,000 sq. ft.

New York -- Ann Inc. on Wednesday reported net income was $40.7 million in the third quarter of 2012, versus $32.3 million in third quarter 2011. The company also increased its outlook for the full year of fiscal 2012.

Total net sales for quarter were $612.5 million, compared $564.0 million in the year-ago period. By brand, net sales across all channels of the Ann Taylor brand totaled $244.6 million compared with net sales of $229.7 last year At the Loft brand, net sales across all channels were $368.0 million, compared with $334.3 million last year.

Tianjin, China -- Global architecture and interior design firm, tvsdesign, celebrates the opening of Galaxy Mall, the retail portion of Tianjin's new Cultural Center District, which opened in October 2012. With 360,000 square meters of total building area, Galaxy Mall ranks among the top five largest retail complexes in China, and is more than 80% leased.

American Greetings is delaying plans to develop a new world headquarters pending the resolution of a buyout proposal from CEO Zev Weiss and other members of management.

American Greetings board of directors believed it was advisable to temporarily delay the project in light of the proposal from Weiss, president and COO Jeffrey Weiss and other members of the Weiss family to take the company private.

Columbus, Ohio -- Express Inc. reported that its net income for the quarter ended Oct. 27 fell to $17.4 million, from $32.7 million a year earlier, amid a fall in same-store sales.

Net sales fell 4% to $468.5 million. Same-store sales declined 5%.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties announced that, through a joint venture between it and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, has acquired The Avenue Webb Gin outdoor mixed-use shopping center from Atlanta-based Cousins Properties.

Uptown, downtown and all over town, New York had an influx of new stores during the past 12 months. While it was hard narrowing down the choices, here’s my annual 10 Best list:

• C. Wonder: The brand’s second Manhattan location is even more whimsical and colorful than the first. With decor that includes polka-dot horses, multicolored striped zebras and 6-ft. logo teddy bears, the 8,000-sq.-ft. store personifies C. Wonder’s fun, upbeat personality. (Shops at Columbus Circle, 18 Columbus Circle)

Not even a hurricane named Sandy could erode the economic upsurge experienced by the northeastern United States over the last year. What this region rebuilt after the Great Recession has managed to stay strong even in the face of Sandy’s 80-mph winds, record flooding and the damage inflicted by its nor’easter sister that arrived just days after the fall 2012 hurricane.