Real Estate

New York City -- British footwear and apparel retailer L.K. Bennett plans to open 30 to 40 stores in the United States during the next three to five years, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

The company will open its first U.S. stores this spring, with British footwear and apparel retailer L.K. Bennett plans to open 30 to 40 stores in the United States during the next three to five years, Women’s Wear Daily reported.locations in Chicago and Atlanta.

New York City -- Finnish retailer Marimekko will open a flagship in Manhattan this fall. The company is also expanding its collaboration with Crate & Barrel.

The 4,000-sq.-ft. store will feature Marimekko’s wide-ranging product mix, which includes furnishings fabrics, home goods, apparel and accessories. It will be designed by the Japanese architectural firm IMA.

New York City -- Borders Group will close another 28 superstore locations in addition to the 200 locations it is already shutting down as part of its reorganization under bankruptcy protection.

The closings are expected to occur by the end of April and include stores in Hollywood, Calif., and Stamford, Conn.

"We reached the determination about these stores after a further review of their ongoing economic viability," Borders spokeswoman Mary Davis said in a statement.

DALLAS – United Commercial Realty has named Robert Luleff as SVP. Robert is well respected in retail real estate and has consistently been a top performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. 

Luleff will join UCR’s retail services platform and will be instrumental in serving both the company’s institutional shopping center owner clients and 100+ national and regional retail clients.  Currently, he is handling the office product project leasing at Southlake Town Square, as well as various leasing assignments in the DFW area.

New York City -- Jack Rogers, the brand best known for its Navajo-inspired sandals, has opened its first retail store, on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

The 1,200-sq.-ft. shop features the company’s greatly growing merchandise lineup, which includes a variety of women’s footwear, accessories, and even some apparel.

The store, designed by New York City-based a+i design, has a nearly all-white interior, with black-oak flooring.
 

Fairfield, N.J. -- Amerlux Global Lighting Solutions recently celebrated the grand opening of Guangzhou Amerlux Lighting Solutions Co. Ltd., its new facility in China, as well as a Hong Kong sales office. The Guangzhou location was officially launched on Feb. 15 with an elaborate traditional Chinese ceremony.

New York City -- VP Corp. plans to open 400 U.S. stores across its various brands during the next years. The company, whose stable of banners include Vans and The North Face, discussed its plans at an investor conference held recently in New York City.

In addition to the U.S. expansion, VF is looking to open some 225 stores in Europe and 80 in Asia. The expansion is expected to bring the company’s global store count to 1,500 units.

HUDSON, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Stores announced that its shareholders approved the adoption of the merger agreement between an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and the company. Of the shares that were voted, over 99% were in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement. Approximately 82% of the total outstanding shares, as of the record date, voted in favor of the merger agreement. The company anticipates the closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, will occur later today.