Real Estate

Orlando, Fla. -- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects said Wednesday it has been awarded a contract to design four Aldi Supermarkets in located in North and South Carolina and Florida.

Each of the supermarket facilities will total 18,000 sq. ft. of retail space and are located in Salisbury and Indian Trails, N.C., in Columbia, S.C., and in southwest Orlando, Fla., near Disney World.

 

Minneapolis -- Caribou Coffee Co. said Wednesday it has opened its 100th international operating location, located in Istanbul, Turkey. The new store, which opened May 10, is in partnership with master franchisee Al Sayer Group and Turkey's Yildiz Holding, and is Caribou's sixth store in Turkey.

Al Sayer Group currently operates 89 of Caribou's 100 international locations in Turkey, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based shopping center owner Regency Centers said it has completed the redevelopment of Boynton Lakes Plaza, a 117,124-sq.-ft. neighborhood center in Boynton Beach, Fla., which included the addition of a 45,000-sq.-ft. Publix.

The new grocery anchor relocated from an undersized store in a nearby center and is slated to open on June 9.

New York -- Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. plans to open about 50 bedding stores, under the Zzz's By Ashley banner, in 2012, according to Furniture Today. The sleep shops will average about 4,500 sq. ft. each, and will offer a wide selection of mattresses and sleep accessories.

“I think we can open several thousand in the next 10 years,” Ben Thorud, the Ashley executive who is heading the new initiative, told Furniture Today.

New York -- M.A.C. Cosmetics will open a flagship on a prime stretch of New York City’s Fifth Avenue, according to various reports.

The company will open up shop in November, on Fifth Avenue near 54th Street, in a space that formerly housed Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa, according to Racked.com.
 

Rochell Park, N.J. -- Avenue Stores announced it has begun the process to close 96 stores over the next three months. The company previously announced plans to selectively close and consolidate stores in order to finalize a geographic footprint that maximizes profitability and sales growth potential.

Upon completion of the closures, the company will continue to operate more than 300 stores in 34 states, and offer online shopping,

Hingham, Mass. -- Talbots said Friday that Sycamore Partners had walked away from negotiations over a proposed $215 million buyout of the retailer. The company, which also reported first quarter results, said it was exploring other strategic alternatives.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended April 28 rose 20.6% to $11.6 million, from $9.6 million in the same quarter last year.
   
Net sales increased 18.9% to $205.6 million, from $172.9 million. Same-store sales for the quarter edged up 1.7%.

Bob Fisch, president and CEO said the company is staying its small- and mid-market growth course.

I’m just back from the retail real estate industry’s annual confab, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon, in Las Vegas. As part of the event, Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, Prudential Douglas Elliman, hosted a panel discussion of retailers at the Women’s Special Industry Group meeting. Here are some of the more notable quotes from the discussion:

Brenda Godfrey, VP global store development, Starbucks Coffee Co.

National Amusements said it will open a six-screen Cinema de Lux at the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center in March 2013.

The new theater is designed to deliver a high-luxury experience with a full-service restaurant, premium reserved seating and at-your-seat dining.

“We’re looking forward to bringing an unparalleled movie going and dining experience to Chestnut Hill,” said Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements.