Development/Redevelopment

Rome, Ga. -- Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Storey Gibson Companies announced its acquisition of Mount Berry Square Mall in Rome, Ga.

The 476,778-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Belk, J.C. Penney and Sears.

Monroeville, Pa. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced that, on the heels of the grand opening of a 110,000-sq.-ft. J.C. Penney store, construction has commenced on a state-of-the-art 12-screen Cinemark Theatre.  Both are part of CBL’s redevelopment of Monroeville Mall, located near Pittsburgh in Monroeville, Pa.

The grand opening for Cinemark Theatre is anticipated for late 2013.

New York -- Saks Inc. has opened its first Saks Fifth Avenue store in Kazakhstan, in the city of Almaty.

During a year that saw Dollar General open its 10,000th store and AutoZone opens its 5,000th store, rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s has opened its 2,000th location.

The Atlanta-based retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, designated a store in the Bronx, New York as its 2,000th location.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. will open stores across the Scandinavian region in a partnership with Umoe Restaurant Group AS, a leading chain of service establishments in Scandinavia.

The first locations are expected to open in 2013 in Sweden and Norway.

Michelle Gass, president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa commented: “We are proud to increase our presence in Scandinavia as part of our growth strategy in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and further develop stores where our customers want and expect us to be

New York -- Uniqlo on Friday will open its largest mall store in the world, in Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J. The two-level, 43,000-sq.-ft. store will serve as the prototype for the Japanese retailer¹s U.S. mall expansion.

The new Uniqlo replaces an Old Navy store and has its own separate entrance to the parking lot as well as a traditional mall entrance. A large LCD monitor display at the mall entrance will feature special interactive games and other content to engage shoppers.

New York -- BFC Partners, a New York real estate development company, announced plans to develop a new retail complex and hotel, with the working name of Harbor Commons, on a site adjacent to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George, Staten Island, N.Y.
 
Harbor Commons will be an approximately 350,000-sq.-ft. retail complex along with a 120,000-sq.-ft. hotel, totaling 470,000 sq. ft. The retail complex will be comprised of approximately 100 designer outlets along with a variety of restaurants and cafes.
 

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. said Thursday it will open a Cabela’s Outpost Store in Kalispell, Mont., joining the outdoor retailer’s single full-line Billings store in the state.

Construction on the 42,000-sq.-ft. location is scheduled to begin in spring 2013 and Cabela’s said it expects to open the store in fall 2013.