Real Estate

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Friday that grants hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives aimed at keeping Sears Holdings Corp., along with CME Group Inc., which operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, headquartered in Illinois.

Lawmakers approved the business tax breaks earlier this month, but Quinn had not yet signed the bill. Both companies had openly threatened to leave the state without some kind of significant aid package.

New York City -- A Friday report by Reuters said that restaurant veteran Tilman Fertitta has added to his restaurant holdings by reaching a $117 million deal for Morton's Restaurant Group Inc., which operates high-end steakhouses nationwide.

Fertitta, who expanded his stake from in Morton’s from the 5% he already held, has outlined plans to modernize the struggling chain.

This latest deal marks Fertitta’s second acquisition in two months, as in November he acquired seafood chain McCormick & Schmick's.

Alameda, Calif. -- Japanese discounter Daiso has opened its eleventh Bay Area location – a pop-up store – at Alameda South Shore Center, a shopping center owned by Jamestown.

The new 1,400-sq.-ft. shop will open for an initial period of three months.

New York City -- Global architecture and design firm Callison announced Friday the acquisition of New York City-based Barteluce Architects & Associates.

This acquisition will grow Callison’s New York team to over 75 architects. Since Jan. 1, 2011, Callison has added more than 200 professionals to its global offices and the company said it plans to make more strategic acquisitions and investments in the future.

Tarrytown, N.Y. – DLC Management Corp. announced a new deal signed with Wal-Mart Stores to open a 44,271-sq.-ft. Walmart Market at DLC’s Bethesda Walk Shopping Center in Lawrenceville, Ga.

The deal, which was finalized on November 21, marks the grocery-only concept’s first store in the Atlanta metro area.

South Bend, Ind. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group said that Biggby Coffee has leased space at Eddy Street Commons at Notre Dame, located South Bend, Ind.

The coffee retailer leased 1,501 sq. ft. for its first Indiana location and will open spring 2012.

Eddy Street Commons is a mixed-use development located adjacent to the University of Notre Dame campus and featuring 90,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 266 apartments, 49 condos, 20 courtyard townhomes, 60 flats, 62 city homes and 82,000 sq. ft. of office space.
 

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced the appointment of Luke Petherbridge as senior VP capital markets. In this role, Petherbridge will be primarily responsible for capital raising, actively managing the balance sheet and maintaining strong lender relationships.

Commerce, Mich. -- LaVida Massage announced the opening of its first center in Pittsburgh, slated to open in late December at Shadyside Shops.

The 2,800-sq.-ft. location will feature nine regular massage rooms, two couples massage rooms and an aesthetics room. It will be owned and managed by brothers and franchisees Gary and Michael Kohanbash.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced the hiring of Scott Landgraf as senior VP in the company’s Newport Beach, Calif., office.

Prior to joining SRS, Landgraf was senior VP at Colliers International.

Landgraf specializes in retail tenant representation and investment sales throughout southern California and the Inland Empire.
 

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that Sleep Outfitters has leased 4,000 sq. ft. at Red Bank Commons, located in Evansville, Ind.

Sleep Outfitters joins Fashion Bug and Hibbett Sports in the 34,258-sq.-ft. shopping center.