Tenant Update

Bethesda, Md. -- Retail real estate alliance X Team International said it has named a new partner, Bethesda, Md.-based Streetsense.

Beyond traditional landlord and tenant representation, Streetsense offers architecture, interior design, branding, marketing and merchandising strategies to entrepreneurs, retailers, developers and public sector entities. 

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced Sunday that it will re-open 12 of its Seiyu stores in Japan, which were affected by the earthquake. A company spokesman added that the retailer is hoping to open the remaining 12 impacted stores as soon as possible.

Wal-Mart has 371 stores and 43 deli outlets in Japan, of which 24 were affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Of Wal-Mart's affected stores, two were severely hit and were completely covered by mud, according to the company.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes said it would close 240 unprofitable stores in 2011, or nearly 12% of its total outlets, and that more than half of those would be Fashion Bug stores.
 
The locations were not disclosed.

The company said all 30 of its Catherines Plus Sizes stores in outlet locations would be shuttered over a two-year period.
 

Willow Grove, Pa. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Jos. A. Bank will open a new store at its Willow Grove Park shopping mall this spring.

The 4,465-sq.-ft. store will be located next to Bloomingdale’s and will join Men’s Wearhouse and Tux, Express, J. Crew, Banana Republic and Guess, expanding Willow Grove Park’s men’s fashion collection.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. said that Vince O’Toole has joined the company as senior VP leasing, effective March 7.
 
O’Toole will lead the specialty store leasing efforts for Santa Fe Place mall in Santa Fe, N.M., and serve as the leasing team leader for Watters Creek in Allen, Texas.  Additionally, he will work on new business for Trademark.

He joins Trademark from Cousins Properties, Atlanta.

Chino Hills, Calif. -- The Shoppes at Chino Hills announced that it is adding Dillon’s Irish Pub & Grill, along with Dripp coffee boutique and ice shop, to its tenant lineup.

The new restaurants join P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Chipotle Mexican Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Yard House and Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill at the shopping center.

New York City -- TF Cornerstone said it recently signed a 15-year, 2,800-sq.-ft. lease with Potbelly Sandwich Shop at 2 Gold Street, a 650 unit luxury residential building.

The location is the chain’s first in New York. Potbelly joins existing tenants Pret-A-Manger, Goodburger and Hot Clay Oven.

Chicago -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Dollar Tree recently signed a lease for 10,900 sq. ft. at West Aurora Plaza in West Aurora, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago.

The new store is slated to open this June in a former Aronson Furniture space.