Real Estate

New York City -- Convenience-store operator Sheetz will open a distribution facility by 2014 to support its expansion plans and increasing number of stores in the state, according to a report by The News & Observer. The distribution facility also will serve stores in southern Virginia and West Virginia, the report said.

Sheetz currently has 394 stores, with more than half in Pennsylvania. With a goal of 500 stores in three years, the chain is targeting North Carolina and West Virginia its top markets for expansion.

New York City -- Bob Evans Farms will extend its “Farm-Fresh Refresh” renovation project to 44 locations in the Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, areas. The renovations are expected to begin in August 2011 and be finished by this November.

The new stores will include a bakery, a carry-out area and a redesigned retail area. The updated design features murals in the entryway depicting the heritage of Bob Evans and more modern furnishings, light fixtures and brighter color schemes in the dining room.

Westchester, Ill. -- Tri-Land Properties announced Thursday that Marshalls and Qdoba Mexican Grill have joined the company’s projects in Indiana and Minnesota.

At Southern Plaza, a 335,000-sq.-ft. Indianapolis shopping center anchored by Kroger and Office Depot, Marshalls has opened a 24,084-sq.-ft. store.

At Century Plaza, a 300,592-sq.-ft. shopping center located in Merrillville, Ind. anchored by Staples and Old Time Pottery, Qdoba Mexican Grill has opened a 2,700-sq. ft. Mexican fast-casual restaurant.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Trademark Property said Thursday that its La Palmera shopping center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver for Core and Shell 2.0 established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Acquired in partnership with International Mall Investors in July 2008, the 1-million-sq.-ft. regional mall located in Corpus Christi is the first in the U.S. to receive the designation.

Ridgeland, Miss. -- Renaissance at Colony Park announced that Brooks Brothers is joining its tenant lineup and is scheduled to open a 7,500+-sq.-ft. store in Ridgeland, Miss., in November. Currently, the nearest Brooks Brothers stores to the Jackson (Miss.) metropolitan area are in New Orleans and Memphis.

Other recent openings at Renaissance at Colony Park include Another Broken Egg Café and Apricot Lane Boutique. Opening soon are SOMA Intimates and Altar’d State Christian Stores.

Former Safeway real estate executive Dan Clayton has joined Denver-based Laramie Company as VP leasing. He previously served as real estate director at Safeway and in his new role will focus on tenant representation and project leasing.

Benbrook, Texas -- The City of Benbrook, Texas, announced Wednesday a new partnership with customer analytics firm Buxton to develop a new regional shopping center The Trails Town Center.

The public -private partnership will build a 1.5 million-sq.-ft., open-air, regional shopping and entertainment development projected to generate $375 million in annual retail sales and provide 6,250+ jobs.

The country’s largest Japanese supermarket chain will debut at Heritage Plaza, in Irvine, Calif.

According to shopping center owner Regency Center, based in Jacksonville, Fla., it has leased 13,853 sq. ft. at Heritage Plaza to Mitsuwa Marketplace. The Asian grocer, which has eight other U.S. locations, including six in California, is slated to open in fourth quarter 2011, in a former Ace Hardware space.