Real Estate

New York -- RadioShack Corporation has opened the first of the next generation of stores scheduled to roll out across the country and around the world over the next several months.

Peru tends to be a logical new market for many Chilean retailers and Walmart will be next, according to unconfirmed reports from a company executive who spoke to Reuters.

The news agency this week said Walmart, which is already one of the leading retailers in Chile, will begin work this year to open stores in Peru and plans to form a local management team. As expected, Walmart denied the report but did acknowledge it planned to run a quality assurance office in Peru for procuring products.

Warrendale, Pa. -- Rue21 Inc. said Wednesday that the “go-shop” period that would have allowed it to be sold to an alternate buyer has expired, edging the specialty apparel and accessories chain closer to a deal with Apax Partners.
 
In May, Rue21 reached a deal to sell itself to Apax for nearly $1 billion; terms allowed the retailer to shop competing bids until July 2. Although 60 potential buyers were contacted, none submitted a competing bid to acquire the company.
 

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Wednesday reported June sales of $5.79 billion, an increase of 2.5% from the year-ago period.

Total front-end sales increased 2.2% compared with the same month last year, while comparable store front-end sales increased 0.8%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.9%, while basket size increased 3.7%.

Rockville, Md. -- Federal Realty Investment Trust has announced that Russ Joyner has joined the company has VP-general manager of Assembly Row. Joyner’s responsibilities will include management and operations at the mixed-use development project in Somerville, Mass. Currently under construction, Assembly Row will open in mid-2014.

The Von Maur department store chain was founded 140 years ago and less than a month from now the company will open its 27th store in Coralville, Iowa.
 
The 80,000-sq.-ft. freestanding store will be located at the Iowa River Landing retail development and feature the company’s signature exterior entrance and resident ambience.

Columbus, Ohio -- Glimcher Realty Trust has announced the appointment and election of Victor Pildes as senior VP development. He will provide leadership in project management and design, strategic planning and overall direction for all new development and redevelopment activities.

With 25 years of development and project management experience, Pildes comes to Glimcher from Centrum Partners LLC, where he served as VP and consultant. He has also served in senior executive positions at Westfield and JMB/Urban Retail Properties Company.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties has announced the acquisition of two Sears locations, one at CBL’s Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky., and the other at CoolSprings Galleria in Nashville. Sears will continue to operate in both locations until closing dates have been finalized.

“We have plans to redevelop and expand both buildings to create space for new high-end specialty stores and restaurants,” said Stephen Lebovitz, CBL’s president and CEO.