Real Estate

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal continues to make moves in the physical world as it seeks to simplify how customers interact with its innovative retail model.

San Francisco-based The RealReal began establishing a direct physical presence last August when it opened an office in New York City to authenticate and accept goods for sale, followed by a location this past February in Los Angeles. And it has now opened a third location focused on jewelry and watches in Chicago.

The off-price division of Nordstrom plans to open a new store in the nation’s capital, and another in Texas.

Nordstrom Rack will open at District Center in the heart of Washington, D.C. The approximately 37,000 sq.-ft., two-level store, is scheduled to open in fall 2016, will be the retailer's thirteenth Nordstrom Rack in Washington, D.C./Baltimore area having first opened in the area at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Virginia in 1990.

Ross Dress for Less opened a new store in El Paso, Texas on March 5.

Amazon.com is opening a state-of-the-art distribution center in Edgerton, Kansas, to fulfill orders for large items such as refrigerators or kayaks.

The company says the facility will create approximately 1,000 full-time hourly positions, plus many managerial and support roles to support customer fulfillment. In Kansas, Amazon currently operates facilities in Lenexa.

Photo: Aritaum, H-Mart, Ridgefield, New Jersey

An underground shopping arcade with cool stores and hip eateries is coming to one of the busiest subway stations in New York City.

TurnStyle is set to open in mid-April, on the subway concourse at the 59th Street Columbus Circle subway station in Manhattan. The 30,000-sq.-ft. center, the first major privatization of a New York subway station, is located along both sides of the 325-ft. long passageway from Eighth Avenue and 57th Street to the subway platforms at 59th Street-Columbus Circle. (The passageway is free to pedestrians since it is not in the fare zone.)

Publix has hired a broker and is actively looking for sites in the Washington, D.C., area, according to a new report. The Washington Business Journal reported that the Florida-based grocery chainhad a booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ Mid-Atlantic Dealmaking and Conference last week in Southern Maryland. Publix spokeswoman Kim Reynolds told the publication that indeed, the chain is looking to open stores throughout Virginia, including in Northern Virginia.

Signet Jewelers is already the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry and it plans to get even bigger in 2016 by accelerating new store and omnichannel growth.
 
Operating stores under banners such as Kay, Jared and Zale, Signet reported a 4.9% fourth quarter same-store sales increase, better than expected profits and said it would open more new stores in 2016 than it previously indicated.
 

Houston -- Thor Equities announced Lowe’s Companies will build a 100,000-sq.-ft. home improvement store at The Shoppes at Cinco Ranch located in Katy, Texas. The company is in the process of developing the 35-acre property, which will include retail stores and restaurant spaces. The property is anchored by Walgreens, with Kroger and Academy Sports + Outdoors located across the street.

Signet Jewelers is already the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry and it plans to get even bigger in 2016 by accelerating new store and omnichannel growth. The news came as the chain reported a same-store sales increase of 4.9% in the fourth quarter.