Real Estate

Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- WS Development said that Pottery Barn, along with Swedish children’s apparel retailer Polarn O. Pyret and locally based Treat Cupcake Bar, will open at its Chestnut Hill Shopping Center.

The new stores are scheduled to open in spring 2013 in a new building at the site of the former Macy’s.
 
Other new stores to open in the 406,000-sq.-ft. shopping and dining destination include The Sports Club/LA, Cinema de Lux, Shake Shack, Pinkberry, and gourmet Asian restaurant Bernard’s.

I mentioned briefly in my last column that I’ve been a little puzzled by what seems to be an industry-wide reluctance to design and develop, and in many cases redevelop centers into, true mixed-use venues. It’s not that our industry doesn’t get excited about mixed-use spaces — they clearly do. But, something is getting lost between the glamorous articles and design concepts, and the real-world execution.

Naperville, Ill. -- Oakbrook Terrace-based Mid-America Asset Management said that five retailers have been signed at Naperville Crossings in Naperville, Ill., totaling nearly 9,400 sq. ft. In addition, three retailers have recently renewed at the center totaling 4,200 sq. ft.

Tide Dry Cleaners leased 3,260 sq. ft. with plans to open a drive-thru dry cleaning service in the first quarter of 2013, becoming the first location in Illinois.

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Cinnabon has opened a 210-sq.-ft. kiosk at Moorestown Mall, located in Moorestown, N.J.

Cinnabon opened at Moorestown Mall on the heels of Books for Less, while Play N Trade and Nailery are set to open at the mall this summer.

St. Paul, Minn. -- Jones Lang LaSalle said it has been selected by the Ramsey County (Minnesota) Regional Rail Authority as the exclusive property management and retail leasing agent for St. Paul Union Depot.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. said Tuesday that Dick’s Sporting Goods will open at Alliance Town Center, located in North Fort Worth.

The 50,000-sq.-ft. store will anchor a 140,000-sq.-ft. Phase 2 of the center. Construction on Dick’s is scheduled to begin in July with opening set for summer 2013.

Alliance Town Center, currently 800,000 sq. ft., is a joint venture of Hillwood and Trademark, and is part of the 17,000-acre Alliance, Texas, master-planned community.

Spartanburg, S.C. -- Denny's Corp. said Wednesday that it has opened its first restaurant in the Dominican Republic as part of a development agreement with Grupo Nahas, which owns and operates the Intercontinental Hotel and Holiday Inn, among others, in Santo Domingo. 

Located in the Food Court of the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, the new restaurant represents Denny's first airport location worldwide.

Goldsboro, N.C. -- Casto announced that Harris Teeter will open a 53,000-sq.-ft. store at Memorial Commons, located in Goldsboro, N.C. It is the grocer’s first store in the market.

Harris Teeter is slated to open late 2013, and will join Office Depot, Subway, Starbucks and T-Mobile.

Memorial Commons, a joint venture of Casto and 1st Carolina Properties, is a new neighborhood center located at the gateway to Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne County Community College.