Tenant Update

At Retail Live!, retailers exhibit, and developers, owners, brokers and others stop by to chat

In the retail real estate landscape, there aren't as many networking options as one might think. Even fewer if you narrow it down to those events that put landlords and tenants in the same room, along with entertainment, face-to-face meet and greets, and mutually beneficial educational sessions.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores announced it will close its Younkers store in the Rapids Mall in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

The company will not renew the lease, which terminates July 31, 2013. The closing will impact approximately 45 associates at this location.

The Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Wisconsin Rapids store as part of the Northern Department Store Group acquisition in 2006. The department store retailer said it does not expect costs associated with the closing of the location to be material.  

El Paso, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial Real Estate said it has negotiated leases for two retailers entering or expanding in the El Paso, Texas, market.
 
Rue21 has opened a 5,000-sq.-ft. store at El Paseo Marketplace, its fourth location in El Paso.

Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry has signed a lease to open its first El Paso location in a 6,057-sq.-ft. store at The Fountains at Farah, a 600,000-sq.-ft. power lifestyle center currently under construction and opening fall 2013.   

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that Blink Fitness will open a 15,500-sq.-ft. facility at the base of Chelsea Park, a new residential building located at 260 West 26th St. in New York City.

Blink will have a ground-floor entrance at 308 Eighth Avenue, which will lead down to an expansive lower-level gym. The 12-story building is currently home to 204 luxury rental apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units.  

Irvine, Calif. -- Passco Cos. announced that Larry Sullivan has been named president, effective May 30.

Sullivan, who currently serves as CFO and CFO of Passco, succeeds William Winn, who recently resigned.

William Passo, founder, will remain in his current position as CEO.
 

Huntsville, Ala. -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty has completed construction on Huntsville, Ala.’s first Academy Sports + Outdoors. The 72,000-sq.-ft. store, which opened on April 26, is the third Academy Sports development for GBT. Reed Construction served as site contractor and Stewart Perry Construction as general contractor on the project.

GBT completed construction in fall 2012 for stores in Mobile, Ala., and Smyrna, Tenn.

Middleburg Heights, Ohio -- Brixmor Property Group announced that a 14,151-sq.-ft. Tuesday Morning recently opened at Southland Shopping Center, located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Southland Shopping Center.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Maxxam Enterprises said that Steak ‘n Shake is entering the California market with a new restaurant on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

The 4,300-sq.-ft. space is located near the intersection of the Promenade and Broadway, across the street from Santa Monica Place, the new upscale shopping mall in Downtown Santa Monica.

Steak ‘n Shake said it plans for a grand opening later this year, after completing tenant improvements to its space.