Tenant Update

Seattle - REI  (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) will to open a new store in Olympia, Wash. in the spring of 2011. 

The two-story, 25,000 square-foot store will be located off Cooper Point Road at Westfield Capital Shopping Mall. 

“REI looks forward to extending our roots further south in Puget Sound with the new store in Olympia,” said Kevin Golic, REI’s retail director for the Washington Alaska district. 

Atlanta -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said Tuesday it has leased more than 23,500 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space for seven new merchant locations in the Atlanta metro market.

According to Andre Koleszar, Regency Centers’ VP and regional officer, Atlanta-area retail business is getting stronger. “We’ve seen leasing activity recovering and retailers are attracted to shopping centers in prime locations with a merchandising mix that attracts upscale customers, ” he said.

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) said Tuesday that locally owned Italian restaurateur Pizzicato Ristorante has opened at Moorestown Mall, in Moorestown, N.J.

The 3,059-sq.-ft. restaurant, a BYO establishment, is located next to Pei Wei.

The 1.1-million-sq.-ft. Moorestown Mall is owned and managed by PREIT, and anchored by Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and Boscov’s.

Baltimore -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers on Tuesday announced the completion of an interior and exterior store remodel of Shoppers Food & Pharmacy at Southside Marketplace, located in Baltimore. 

The newly renovated anchor includes an upgraded shopping experience with updated finishes, lighting and store fixtures inside and out.

Plano, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Plano, Texas, at Preston Park Village to Toni & Guy.

The hair, skin and nail salon will open a 1,690-sq.-ft. location in January 2011.

The 239,333-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 53,118-sq.-ft. Tom Thumb alongside national retailers Panera Bread, Williams Sonoma, Ann Taylor and The UPS Store.

Los Angeles -- Grubb & Ellis Co. announced Monday that Arlene Sommer and Mark Robinson have joined the company’s Office Group as executive VPs, along with Evan Kantor who joins as a senior associate.

Specializing in office tenant representation, primarily in the media, entertainment, legal and financial industries, the team joins from Studley, where they served as executive managing director, senior managing director and assistant director, respectively.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Jacksonville at Johns Creek Center to Tony’s New York Style Pizza.

The local pizzeria will open a 1,600-sq.-ft. restaurant in March 2011, and brings the center to 93% leased.

The 75,100-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Publix alongside Great Clips, H&R Block and Bank of America.

NEW YORK - Gracious Home, a home goods retailer with stores in New York City's Upper West and Upper East side neighborhoods, as well as online at gracioushome.com, was acquired by Americas Retail Flagship Fund LLC. The company under its prior ownership had filed for bankruptcy protection in August.

Houston -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Houston at Woodway Collection to Appleton Learning Center.

Specializing in tutoring services, group classes, student testing and other related services, Appleton Learning Center has leased 2,440 sq. ft. and is slated to open in February 2011.

The 111,165-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by Randalls alongside national retailers such as Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Pearle Vision and Chase Bank.

Santa Ana, Calif. -- Grubb & Ellis Co. announced that Susan E. Calvert and Joe I. Munoz have joined the company’s Lease Administration group.

Calvert, who joins as manager, Lease Administration, spent two years as a real estate administrator with SRS Real Estate Partners, where she was responsible for commercial portfolios spanning approximately 350 locations. Munoz, who will also serve on the lease administration team, spent seven years with SRS Real Estate Partners, ultimately rising to the position of lead real estate administrator.