Real Estate

Minneapolis -- Opus Development Corp. announced that John Gelderman has been hired as senior VP national retail development.

In his new position, Gelderman will lead the current Opus retail team, oversee all existing retail development and will be responsible for seeking all new retail development opportunities across the country.

Union, N.J. -- A Seabra Foods and Koki Japanese Buffet opened at Galloping Hill Center in Union, N.J., according to Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp., the property’s exclusive leasing and managing agent.

A Seabra Foods is a full-service grocer and will open a 30,861-sq. ft. space formerly housed by another supermarket tenant.

Koki Japanese Buffet leased 5,500 sq. ft., joining other retailers and services including Mandee, Memory Lane Hallmark, Citibank, Weight Watchers, Radio Shack and Manhattan Bagel.

Los Angeles -- Citadel Outlets, Los Angeles's only outlet shopping mall, announced that Tilly's, The Children's Place and U.S. Polo Assn opened in March.

The Children's Place (4,994 sq. ft.) opened on March 29 next to Nautica. Tilly's (5,162 sq. ft.) opened March 21, and the new U.S. Polo Assn. store (3,258 sq. ft.) opened March 9 next to Justice. 

In other center news, Rockport opened up its doors in February, Sprockets Kids relocated within the center, and Hurley, Van's and Bass remodeled and expanded their existing stores.

Mendota Heights, Minn. -- St. Paul, Minn.-based Paster Enterprises announced that the new Walgreens at Mendota Plaza in Mendota Heights, Minn., is officially open.  

The 14,820-sq.-ft. Walgreens is a new prototype featuring, in addition to exterior design enhancements, improved aisle graphics, more accessible shelving, polished concrete floors and an updated photo finishing area.

Paramus, N.J. -- New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Welco Realty, an X Team partner, announced that it has signed a lease representing Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft for 30,000 sq. ft. for a flagship store in the former Comp USA space in Paramus, N.J.

This store will be one of the largest format stores for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, its first store in the Paramus market. 
 

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s will open a store Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, in spring 2012. The 50,000-sq.-ft. store will be Cabela’s third store in Canada, joining locations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a former S.I.R. Warehouse Sports Store acquired and converted in 2008, and Edmonton, Alberta, to open late this summer.

New York City -- Satellite TV company Dish Network Corp. said Wednesday that it won the auction for Blockbuster with a bid valued at $228 million in cash. The transaction, expected to close the deal during the second quarter, needs bankruptcy court approval.

As of Tuesday, Dish, investor Carl Icahn and a group of debt holders were the three remaining bidders for the Dallas movie-rental chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in September.

With its outdoor underpinnings and Swiss accents, Wenger, in Boulder, Col., is the perfect showcase for the legendary 116-year-old company, which is best known as the maker of the “genuine” Swiss Army Knife. The 3,000-sq.-ft. store, which took top honors in the Association for Retail Environments’ 2011 design awards, is the firm’s first freestanding store in the United States.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Tuesday that sales for the month of March rose 7.6% to $6.28 billion, compared with $5.83 billion in the year-ago period.

Duane Reade stores, acquired in April 2010, contributed 2.8% to the total sales increase for the month.

Same-store sales rose 3% in March, not including Duane Reade stores. Results topped Wall Street expectations.

Walgreens opened 12 stores during March, including three relocations, acquired one store and closed two.

New York City -- Blockbuster's bankruptcy auction is set to stretch into a second day on Tuesday after preliminary talks between bidders and the chain's representatives dragged on late into Monday, a company spokesman said.

Blockbuster did not say how many bidders it attracted, but halls outside the auction room in Manhattan bankruptcy court were packed with attorneys and investment bankers refining their bids throughout Monday, Reuters reported.