Real Estate

Cherry Hill, N.J. — Noted fashion designer and retailer Michael Kors has opened a new store in Cherry Hill, N.J. — at the Cherry Hill Mall, a property owned by Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust.

The store opening is part of the mall’s $200 million complete renaissance, which includes the addition of white-linen restaurants, a new parking deck, the addition of an upscale retail wing, a redesigned and relocated food court now called Cherry Hill Cafés, and extensive interior and exterior renovations.

Vista, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Vista, Calif., at Vista Village to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. 

The restaurant leased 2,611 sq. ft. of retail space at the 232,543-sq. ft. Vista Village, which is anchored by Krikorian Premiere Theatre and Frazier Farms.

Arlington, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased 3,588 sq. ft. of retail space in Arlington, Texas, at Cooper Street Plaza to Mattress Firm.  

The store is slated to open for business in October 2011. 

The 235,196-sq-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 137,840-sq.-ft. Home Depot alongside national retailers such as OfficeMax, T.G.I. Friday’s and State Farm Insurance. 

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that Dibella’s Subs will join Traders Point II shopping center, in Indianapolis, with a 3,200-sq.-ft. Indiana debut. The 447,507-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marsh Supermarket, Michael’s, Old Navy, Petsmart and AMC Theatre.  

At Cool Creek Commons in Carmel, Ind., Kite leased 5,554 sq. ft. to Boom Bozz Pizza & Tap House, which will open its first location in Indiana.

Johannesburg, South Africa — A Bloomberg report on Sunday said that Massmart Holdings Ltd., the South African retailer controlled by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., will open 23 new outlets over the next eight months, part of its plan to not only expand its coverage area but also to add jobs in the region. The plan calls for 15,000 jobs over the next three years.

The retailer also said it will repeat a price-cut promotion at its stores.

The current economic climate has us all thinking more about retail expansion than perhaps over the last two to three years, but real estate disposition/portfolio optimization isn’t just on simmer. There’s still plenty of action in that arena, and Chain Store Age talked with Spence J. Mehl, SVP of New York City-based RCS Real Estate Advisors, about the latest happenings.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Retail interior environments manufacturer TJ  Hale has purchased Milwaukee-based millwork manufacturer A.J. Pietsch. 

A.J. Pietsch manufacturing will move to Menomonee Falls, and the two companies will leverage their state-of-the-art systems, CNC equipment and facilities. 

New York -- In a partnership with the U.K.-based retailer PC World, Google has opened its first-ever physical retail space, a pop-up shop in London.  It will be open for three months. 

The small,  285-sq.-ft. shop, called Chrome Zone, is devoted to Samsung’s ultra-portable Chrome OS-powered Chromebook computer and related accessories.  The space  has a high-tech look and is decked out in Google’s signature colors.