Real Estate

Amsterdam -- A Monday report by Bloomberg said that Royal Ahold NV will grow its online business, expand its store count in Belgium and add 150 convenience operations in an effort to ramp up sales.

The Dutch owner of Stop & Shop is also on a cost-cutting mission, saying it will reduce expense by $473 million over three years via supply chain improvements and a reduction in logistics and overhead expense.

Dallas -- GTM Development, a limited partnership created by The MGHerring Group and Cencor Realty Services, said it has completed the acquisition of Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas.

MGHerring will be responsible for the redevelopment of the 765,000-sq.-ft. Golden Triangle Mall, which will begin in early 2012 with a grand reopening slated for next fall.

Cencor manages the mall while MGHerring and The Weitzman Group, Cencor’s brokerage affiliate, jointly lease the property.

Charlotte, N.C. -- CNL Crosland Commercial Real Estate announced two new tenant signings and an expansion for an existing retailer at Blakeney, a retail shopping center in south Charlotte, N.C.

Flywheel Sports is slated to open at Blakeney in January. Accessory boutique Bijuju opened earlier in November, and Creative by Nature Home doubled its square footage and moved into a new space in September.

Boston -- A report released Monday by CBRE Econometric Advisors, a division of Los Angeles-based CBRE Group, said that the U.S. retail real estate sector’s availability rate is expected to decline to 12.4% by the end of 2012.

In 2013, the national retail availability rate, including neighborhood and community centers, will drop further, reaching 11.7%.
 
In third quarter 2011 the retail availability rate was 13.2%. This rate remains well above the previous availability peak of 11.3% set in second quarter 1992.

Mobile, Ala. -- Brixmor Property Group announced that Ulta has opened a 12,017-sq.-ft. store at Springdale Mall, located in Mobile, Ala.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Springdale Mall.
 

James Island, S.C. -- Brixmor Property Group announced that Burke’s Outlet has opened a 26,680-sq.-ft. store at Island Plaza, located in James Island, S.C.

Island Plaza is owned by Brixmor, based in New York City.
 

Wichita Falls, Texas -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said Monday that Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has signed a lease to occupy 1,710 sq. ft. at Kemp Crossing, located in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The new Jimmy John’s location will be operated by franchisee Balwanti Indra Dayaram.

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties announced it has promoted Chris Abadie to VP and manager of the Commercial Brokerage Division after 11 years as a sales and leasing executive with the company.

In his new role, Abadie will oversee all aspects of commercial operations throughout each of Stirling Properties brokerage offices located in Louisiana and Mississippi.