Real Estate

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores on Wednesday is celebrating  the grand opening of nine new stores across seven states: Illinois, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.  The chain plans to open a total of approximately 40 stores in 2011.

In addition,  Kohl’s continues to invest in its existing store base, remodeling approximately 100 stores in 2011, an 18% increase from 2010.

New York — Walmart will next week start building its first smaller-format Express stores, according to building permits obtained by Bloomberg News.

The chain will begin construction March 16 on a 14,400-sq.-ft. store in Gentry, Ark., which is about 20 miles from the company’s Bentonville headquarters, according to the permits.

West Palm Beach, Fla. — Hurricane Grill & Wings announced it has signed seven new domestic development agreements, adding commitments for 233 new restaurants to its 42 existing locations.

The new development agreements will contribute to the company's accelerated growth plan with new locations in 15 states, including California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and District of Columbia.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. -- Kohl’s Department Stores announced the grand opening of nine new stores across seven states, which the company said will create more than 1,200 jobs.

The new stores were opened Illinois, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. In addition, Kohl's plans to open a total of approximately 40 new stores in 2011. The company said it also plans to remodel approximately 100 stores in 2011, an 18% increase from 2010.

New York City -- Wakefern Food Corp., parent of the ShopRite supermarket chain, plans to introduce its PriceRite discount format in Maryland, opening a 37,000-sq.-ft. store in Woodlawn on March 13.

Wakefern operates 45 corporate PriceRite locations, which feature both private-label and national brands in a value format.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg Tuesday announced the grand opening of a new location at the Chapel Hill Mall, Akron, Ohio, on March 10.

The new store will replace Hhgregg’s older location in Akron, Ohio.

“The store’s new location and design will provide shoppers in the Akron area with a modern, convenient shopping experience,” said Jeff Pearson, VP marketing, Hhgregg. “We hope that shoppers will come into the store to see the new layout and take advantage of grand opening specials.”

New York City -- Urban Outfitters will debut its newest brand, a bridal-shop concept called Bhldn, in early fall, in Houston. The company launched the brand online in February.

Urban Outfitters will open 50 to 55 stores in its current fiscal year, with the emphasis on growing its Free People brand and expansion of its namesake division and Anthropologie in Europe.

London -- Online sales club Privalia Venta Directa, S.L. said Monday it will acquire Dress for Less, a German online fashion retailer, from Palamon Capital Partners, a pan-European private equity firm.
 
The acquisition will be funded through a combination of $123 million of new equity provided by equity firms General Atlantic, Highland Capital Partners, Index Ventures and Insight Venture Partners.
 
Dress for Less founders Mirco Schultis and Holger Hengstler will become significant shareholders in Privalia.