Real Estate

Henderson, Nev. -- Frozen yogurt purveyor U-Swirl said Thursday that its area developer for the Houston market has signed a lease for its first of a 10-miminum store commitment to be opened over the next 48 months.

Houston is the fifteenth area in 13 states where U-Swirl is currently developing locations. It currently has 29 yogurt cafes open and operating.

 

New Orleans -- Costco Wholesale Corp. will enter the state of Louisiana with a 148,000-sq.-ft. store at Carrollton Plaza Shopping Center in New Orleans.

The new lease, announced by center owner The Feil Organization, will add Costco to a lineup of retailers that includes CVS, Firestone, Family Dollar and Subway.

Costco is slated to open spring 2013.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. said Thursday it has acquired partner Controladora Comercial Mexicana’s 50% share interest in Costco Mexico for approximately $760 million, funded by dividend proceeds, cash and investment balances.

The Costco México joint venture has been 50% owned by each of Costco Wholesale and CCM and operated by Costco Wholesale. :

Jaime Gonzalez Solana will continue as CEO of Costco México.
 

Dallas -- 7-Eleven said Thursday it has completed its previously announced transaction with convenience store operator Strasburger Enterprises and has acquired 23 c-stores in Texas, mostly under the Quix banner.

Terms of the deal, which brings 7-Eleven’s Texas store count to 570, weren’t disclosed.

Montreal -- Aéropostale said Thursday that it is adding to its presence in Canada with the opening of its first store in Quebec, on June 15 at Place du Royaume in Ville de Saguenay.

The chain said that six more stores will open in 2012, including Place Laurier in Québec City, Fairview Pointe Claire in Point-Claire, Promenades St. Bruno in St. Bruno De Montarville, Galleria D'Anjou in Anjou, Mail Champlain in Brossard and Les Galeries de la Capitale in Québec City.

Roswell, Ga. -- PGA Tour Superstore is opening a second Chicagoland location on June 14, in Downers Grove, Ill. The company opened a store in Schaumburg, Ill., last month.

Downers Grove is PGA Tour Superstore's 14th retail location. The stores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, whose controlling owner and chairman is Arthur M. Blank, retired Home Depot co-founder and current owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

New York -- Barnes & Noble Inc. founder and chairman Leonard Riggio agreed on Wednesday to forgo $29 million from a sale of one of his companies to the book retailer in order to settle a shareholder lawsuit, according to court documents, Reuters reported.

The lawsuit goes back to a 2009 agreement by the chain to buy back Barnes & Noble College Booksellers Inc. for $514 million from Riggio.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to open a store in Merrimack, Mass., on June 14.

The 28,032-sq.-ft. store is located in Merrimack Premium Outlets, a new shopping center 55 miles northwest of Boston. The store’s launch will coincide with the outlet’s grand opening celebration, which will last from June 14 until June 17. Operated by Simon Malls, the Outlet Center will be home to a collection of 100 designer and name-brand outlet stores, up to four restaurants and a food court.