Real Estate

New York City -- Walmart has reached a deal in principle with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, Crain’s New York Business reported. The agreement guarantees union workers will construct or renovate any stores that the chain opens in the city during the next five years, Crain’s New York reported.

The agreement is a win for Walmart, which has faced tough opposition from unions in New York City.

New York City -- Safeway will combat an aggressive crop of new rivals with an expansion that includes nine stores in the West, of which six will be in the San Francisco Bay area, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The chain plans to open stores in Pleasanton, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Campbell, Los Gatos and Burlingame. It also is working to obtain city approvals for stores in Pleasant Hill, Emeryville and Berkeley, the report said, and is eyeing a new store in the Oakland hills.

New York City -- The City Council of San Diego repealed strict limits on new retail supercenters Tuesday amid concerns over the cost of a ballot measure forced by a Walmart-led petition drive, the Associated Press reported.

The 7-1 vote came less than two months after the council required retailers such as Walmart to study how so-called "big-box" stores would affect the economy and traffic. Opponents of the measure said it amounted to a ban.

New York City -- Athletic goods and footwear company Asics has opened an ultra-modern flagship in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The two-level store, located next to the city's legendary Vondelpark running center, has a sleek, futuristic design and offers several exclusive services, including advanced biomechanical and running analysis systems. Click here to see photos.

Irvine, Calif. -- KTGY Group, Architecture and Planning, said that Diane's Beachwear will be opening its newest store in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Scottsdale Quarter in early March.

The new 1,200-sq.-ft. flagship store represents the 19-store chain's debut outside of California. KTGY is the architect for the new Diane's Beachwear store.   Skyline Development and Construction of Norco, Calif., is the general contractor.

Dallas -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors, said Tuesday that Venture Commercial, through its Venturetainment division, assisted with site-selection efforts and completed two leases for global visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments Group to bring two of its iconic attraction brands to the Texas market for the first time.

New York City -- New York City residents spent nearly $200 million at about a dozen Walmart stores in the New York metropolitan area in 2010, up about 20% from the amount reported in a previous 12-month period, the company said Monday, according to Crain’s New York.

Although Wal-Mart does have any stores in New York City proper, the chain is determined to break into the market and is working to overcome opposition from labor, community and small business groups.

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Boca Raton, Fla.-based Woolbright Development announced that it has acquired Village Commons shopping center, located in West Palm Beach, Fla. 

Woolbright will oversee the center’s leasing, property management, construction management, marketing and promotions.

Rowland Heights, Calif. -- Shoe City has opened a 7,680-sq.-ft. store at Puente Hills Town Center, located in Rowland Heights, Calif.

The shopping center is owned by Centro Properties Group, based in New York City.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Privately held European women’s apparel retailer, Desigual, said it has leased nearly 6,400 sq. ft. on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica from landlord Promenade Gateway, an affiliate of Maxxam Enterprises.

The store will serve as Desigual’s flagship West Coast location. The retailer currently has more than 170 retail locations and approximately 450 shop-in-shops in major department stores across Europe and Asia.