Development/Redevelopment

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties, developer of the East Peoria Downtown shopping center, hosted a ceremonial ‘Steel Raising’ event last week to mark the development of the Peoria project.

Joining Target and Costco at the center will be Ulta Beauty with an 11,000-sq.-ft. store adjacent to Target, and Gordmans, which has leased a 50,000-sq.-ft. space slated to open in early 2013.

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Crazy 8 will open its Moorestown Mall property, located in Moorestown, N.J.

The 2,505-sq.-ft. store is slated to open this fall in the 1 million-sq.-ft. enclosed regional mall anchored by Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and Boscov’s.
 

New York – A report by Women’s Wear Daily said that shapewear brand Spanx will launch a retail presence, with four store openings in the coming months.

Expanding its online and department-store presence, Spanx will open three standalone branded stores in October, according to WWD, located in Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va.; Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J.; and King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia.  A fourth store is slated to open at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

Don’t let the grocery sector shake-ups fool you.

While there are individual failures, the category as a whole continues to find favor among developers that place a premium on having a traffic magnet in their shopping centers.

I’ve written before about the ongoing trend of some of the biggest names in retail downsizing. Now I’m seeing how brands like Target, Wal-Mart and Office Depot are rolling out smaller new store formats in urban environments, and it has me thinking about how this downsizing phenomenon might be even more important than many people realize.

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Soma Intimates will open a 2,369-sq.-ft. store this fall at Will Grove Park, located in Willow Grove, Pa.

Accessory boutique Laila Rowe will also open this fall, in a 1,181-sq.-ft. space.

Willow Grove Park is a three-level, 1.2 million-sq.-ft. regional shopping mall anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Sears and Nordstrom Rack.
 

Glenwillow, Ohio -- Fashion retailer Dots announced Tuesday it has named former Wal-Mart Stores senior VP Lisa Rhodes as its new CEO.
   
Rhodes, who led Wal-Mart’s U.S. apparel merchandising division, has been charged with leading Dots’ march toward 1,000 stores, also announced Tuesday.
    
Prior to her role at Wal-Mart, Rhodes was executive VP and chief merchandising officer for Maurice’s.
   

Sharon, Pa. -- Casual-dining chain Quaker Steak & Lube said Monday it has opened its 50th restaurant in Lakewood, Ohio, and is on track to open 10 additional restaurants this year. The brand also will be expanding to six new markets with five franchise groups over the next several years.

"Over the past six months, we signed agreements to develop 11 new restaurants around the country, including three corporate locations in Texas," said John Longstreet, president and CEO.