Real Estate

Starbucks blends tradition with innovation, transforming the vault of the historic Amsterdamsche Bank, a landmark building in Rembrandt Square, into its largest store in Europe. The chain’s first “concept” store in Europe, it spans 4,500 sq. ft. and was conceived as a theatre space with a 57-foot coffee bar as its stage, with multi-level areas that provide stages for local bands, poetry readings and other cultural activities. The store will function as a test space for rare and exclusive coffees, diverse coffee brewing methods, and new food concepts.

New York -- Canada’s Loblaw Cos. Ltd. plans to spin off the vast majority of its property assets into a real estate investment trust. The retailer said it plans to spin off real estate worth more than C$7 billion ($7.05 billion) into the REIT and sell units of the trust through an initial public offering that it hopes to complete by mid-2013.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is moving ahead full-steam. The company on Wednesday announced accelerated global growth plans that include opening at least 1,500 stores in the United States during the next five years. Including Canada and South America in the mix, Starbucks expects to add a total of 3,000 new locations in its Americas region — and renovate thousands more — by 2017.

Burlington, Mass. -- Demandware announced Ethan Allen Interiors will leverage the Demandware Commerce platform as the digital foundation of its global expansion strategy.

Ethan Allen recently launched its first site on the Demandware platform in Canada to coincide with the grand opening of its first Design Center in Montreal. Ethan Allen plans to re-launch its U.S. e-commerce site with Demandware in 2013 in addition to site launches in other countries, including Europe, to support its new design center in Brussels.

Los Angeles -- Multiple reports on Tuesday said that British billionaire and Topshop owner Sir Philip Green is negotiating with Leonard Green & Partners to sell a 25% stake in the TopShop and Topman chains.

The two brands, which would be broken off from Philip Green’s other Arcadia Group retail holdings, are valued at $1.61 billion. An announcement is expected as early as Thursday.

Neither Philip Green nor Leonard Green has commented directly on the impending transaction.

Philadelphia -- Metro Commercial Real Estate said that David’s Bridal will open an 8,164-sq.-ft. store at Great Northeast Plaza, located in the northeastern part of Philadelphia.

The new store is slated to open by spring 2013.

Boston -- DJM Realty announced that Josh Podell has joined the company as a specialty retail and outlet consultant.

Podell, who will continue to operate his own real estate consultancy Podell Real Estate Advisors, counts among his retail experience a lengthy stint as VP real estate for Jones Retail Corp., a division of Jones Apparel Group.

Cleveland -- Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Group announced Wednesday it has opened its 3,500th retail location in total and its 70th in 2012.

The newest store is 4,000 sq. ft. and located in Rancho Santa Margarita (Orange County), Calif.