Development/Redevelopment

Loblaw Companies Limited has transformed the famed Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto — an iconic Canadian landmark and former home of one of the most famous hockey arenas in North America — into the ultimate upscale supermarket destination. Massive in scope and ambition, the 85,000-sq.-ft. store more than lives up to its billing as “Toronto’s new crown jewel of food stores.”

Beachwood, Ohio -- Mall owner DDR Corp. announced Wednesday that it has acquired its joint-venture partner’s 50% ownership interest in two power centers located in Portland, Ore., and in Phoenix. The $70 million transaction gives DDR full ownership of the assets.

Tanasbourne Town Center, in Portland, is a large-format power center totaling 566,000 sq. ft. and anchored by Target, Nordstrom Rack, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ross Dress For Less, Michaels, Old Navy and Petco.

Target’s ability to replenish stores across a large swath of the central United States is poised to improve in the next two years as the company gains much needed new distribution capacity in Texas and Ohio.

Peterborough, N.H. -- Eastern Mountain Sports announced plans to open three stores during the next three months.

The company is moving an existing location at the Plaza at Buckland Hills in Manchester, Conn., approximately 12 storefronts down into a new, 18,831-sq.-ft. site. It also is opening a 20,442-sq.-ft. store in South Portland, Maine, and a 13,013-sq.-ft, location in North Brunswick, N.J.

Sandusky, Ohio -- Youngstown, Ohio-based The Cafaro Co. said Tuesday that cosmetics retailer Ulta will open a store at its Sandusky Mall property, located in Sandusky, Ohio.

Ulta’s new 11,000-sq.-ft. store is slated to open in the fourth quarter, bringing the Pavilion section of the complex to 100% occupancy.

The 1+ million-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Macy’s, Elder-Beerman, Sears, J.C. Penney, Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods, and features more than 90 other specialty shops. 

Erie, Pa. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said that Ross Dress for Less will open a store at the Millcreek Mall Complex near Erie, Pa.

The new store will open in the Millcreek Pavilion section of the complex this fall. It will occupy more than 25,000 sq. ft. next to Old Navy.

Millcreek Mall Complex, located in Millcreek Township, comprises more than two million sq. ft. of shopping, lodging, dining and entertainment.
 

Indianapolis -- Mall owner Simon Property Group said Tuesday that Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will anchor the company’s two new centers in development in its Premium Outlets division: Phoenix Premium Outlets and St. Louis Premium Outlets.

Phoenix Premium Outlets in Chandler, Ariz., is currently under construction with a spring 2013 opening planned. Phase 1 of the center will be comprised of 360,000 sq. ft. housing approximately 90 outlet stores featuring high-quality designer and name brands.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is planning to a major push into smaller cities in China, with a target of 1,500 stores in more than 70 Chinese cities by 2015, Bloomberg reported.

China will become the chain’s second largest market outside the United States, the report said. Currently, Starbucks has about 500 outlets in China and operates in 48 cities.