Tenant Update

North Canton, Ohio — Construction of a new Panera Bread will get underway this spring in the Hoover District of North Canton, Ohio. The first retail establishment in the Hoover District, the restaurant plans to open this fall.

Being developed by Industrial Realty Group, the Hoover District is a mixed-use redevelopment envisioned as a live-work-play environment.

New York City — Gourmet Garage, an upscale market with five Manhattan locations, has signed a lease for a sixth Manhattan location at Collect Pond House, a co-op building at 366 Broadway.

The market will occupy approximately 6,435 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 3,510 sq. ft. in the lower level. An additional 910 sq. ft. in the mezzanine will provide seating.

Los Angeles, Calif. — CIM Group has acquired a seven-asset portfolio that includes an office tower with ground floor retail and an enclosed regional shopping mall.

New York -- For the second consecutive year, Chain Store Age will select 10 individuals in retail real estate as “retail stars;” all will be featured in the April/May 2014 issue with bonus distribution to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon show in Las Vegas in May.

The award recognizes people under the age of 40 who are making an impact in retail real estate – whether from the tenant (retail) or the landlord (shopping center company) side.

New York — Crunch Fitness has opened a 20,000-sq.-ft. location at the Moreno Valley Mall in Moreno Valley, Calif. Crunch Fitness’s neighbors include Harkins Theatres, Round 1, Victoria’s Secret, Zales, Aeropostale, Express, Footlocker, Forever 21, Hollister, The Children’s Place and New York & Co.

Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Sears anchor the center.

Nashville, Tenn. — GBT Realty has announced that Firehouse Subs, Aspen Dental, Bama Fever Tiger Pride, Smashburger and Edible Arrangements will be coming to Cobbs Ford Village, a new in-line shopping center in Prattville, Ala.

Starbuck’s and Gigi’s Cupcakes have already opened at the shopping center, and Chipotle will open in mid February. Two 1,600-sq.-ft. places remain available.

North Plainfield, N.J. — Levin Management inked 27 new leases and lease renewals totaling more than 190,000 sq. ft. over the past several months.

Northern New Jersey (Passaic, Essex, Bergen and Somerset counties)

• At West Orange Plaza in West Orange, Essex County, Levin signed a 14,115-sq.-ft. lease with Retro Fitness. In neighboring Passaic County, at Clifton Plaza in Clifton, Levin signed another gym for 15,000 sq. ft. and is overseeing its ground-up construction there.

Bebe Stores had a difficult second quarter. The company reported a net loss of $5.5 million, which it said was partly fueled by declining mall traffic and an aggressive promotional environment across the industry.

Net sales declined 4.1% to $130 million, from $135.5 million reported for the second quarter a year ago. Same-store sales decreased 1.9%.

CEO Steve Birkhold acknowledged challenges, but cited sequential improvement in same-store sales and holiday sales, as well.