Development/Redevelopment

Melville, N.Y. – Former founding partners of DJM Realty Andrew Graiser and Emilio Amendola announced Monday they have launched A&G Realty Partners, a commercial real estate consulting, advisory and investment group.

A&G will offer a comprehensive set of services that address both common and complex industry issues.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial said that LA Fitness has signed a long-term lease to build a 45,000-sq.-ft. facility in the Old Town Shopping Center in Dallas, on the site of a former Borders bookstore.

LA Fitness has begun razing the existing building on behalf of the landlord, preparing the site for construction of a new prototype club, which is expected to open around the end of the year.

Lexington, Ky. – Tarrytown, N.Y.-based DLC Management Corp. sad that Half Price Books will open a new store at Fayette Place, located in Lexington, Ky.

The 8,976-sq.-ft. junior anchor will join Marshalls, Shoe Carnival, Pier1 Imports, Outback Steakhouse and Dollar Tree in the neighborhood shopping center.

It will be the second Half Price Books location in the Lexington community.
 

Philadelphia -- Visionworks, the largest wholly owned U.S.-based optical retailer, has opened its first store in the Philadelphia area. Located in Deptford Township, N.J., it is the first of more than 25 stores expected to open in the market through 2013.

The San Antonio-based retailer plans to open 17 stores before the end of 2012 and additional locations by April 2013.

Seattle -- REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) said Tuesday it will make its state debut in Kansas in fall 2013, with a new store in Overland Park, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City.

The 23,500-sq.-ft. REI Overland Park will be located at Prairiefire at Lionsgate. Approximately 50-60 new hires are planned.
 

Dallas – The Container Store said Tuesday it will open three Florida locations in 2013 – in Orlando, Tampa and Boca Raton – joining its two existing Sunshine State stores in Hallandale Beach and Miami.

The Orlando store is slated to open spring 2013 and occupy 25,000 sq. ft. in the Mall at Millenia. The Tampa store, also 25,000 sq. ft., will be located one block south of International Plaza Mall. An opening date is still to be determined.

SEATTLE — Recreational Equipment Inc. is making its Kansas debut with its first store set to open in Overland Park in the fall of 2013.

Boston -- A report released Tuesday by CB Richard Ellis found that, despite concerns about the pace of economic recovery and lukewarm employment growth, the U.S. commercial real estate market showed improvement across all property sectors in the second quarter of 2012.

Retail properties, which have generally lagged other property sectors during the recovery, saw a slight improvement in availability, which fell to 13% during the second quarter.