Real Estate

Amazon continues to expand its already considerable fulfillment capabilities.    The online giant is set to open its third distribution center in Nevada, a move that will service customers in the southwest.   The new 800,000-square-foot facility, which will open in North Las Vegas, will employ more than 1,000 full-time workers who will pick, pack and ship larger customer items, such as big-screen televisions, kayaks and patio furniture.   

The South Plains Mall in Lubbock, a dominant retail center in the Texas Panhandle for 40 years, this week unveils a series of updates for customers.   The Macerich-owned mall has redesigned all three of its entrances, added new flooring and lighting throughout the building, and introduced amenities including center-wide Wi-Fi, charging stations, soft seating, and new restrooms.  

Furniture manufacturer Herman Miller continues its transformation from a maker of modern office furniture to a lifestyle brand with the opening of its first retail store.     The 6,000-sq.-ft. Herman Miller store is located on the ground and second floors of Herman Miller's flagship building on Park Avenue South in Manhattan. The building houses corporate office space for Maharam, Design Within Reach, and Geiger — all Herman Miller owned companies — along with commercial showrooms for Herman Miller and Geiger.

As PetSmart continues to expand its brick-and-mortar presence across North America, it also is working on its next generation store.    The company opened its 1,500th store, in Sheridan, Colorado. One of approximately 80 new locations the retailer is opening in 2016, the 18,000-sq.-ft. Sheridan store offers a full line of pet supply products along with pet training and adoption services and a full-service grooming salon.  

Among cities with more than 250,000 residents, Plano, Texas, has the highest median income in the land at $104,000. It’s also one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, so Eden’s Preston Towne Crossing and Berkeley Square in Plano have expanded and upgraded their food and beverage options in kind.   Recently opened at Preston Towne Crossing are SusieCakes Bakery, a specialist in old-fashioned sweets, cookies, and cakes, and Vom Fass, a purveyor of cask-aged vinegars, oils, wines, and spirits.  

Mid-America Asset Management has named Tracee Johnson senior asset manager, investing her with full responsibility for maintaining relationships with retail tenants.   Johnson, a 10-year veteran of Mid-America, will also be responsible for budgeting and operational planning and oversight of the more than 60 million sq. ft. of retail the company leases and manages throughout the Midwest.   Johnson is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois.

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Plenty has been written about the importance of infusing experiences into shopping centers. Much has been written about placemaking. But not nearly enough has been written about the role a well-thought-out landscape environment contributes to overall experience and the power of "place." It’s more important to women shoppers than you might imagine.   

The online retailer credited with disrupting the mattress category may be moving into the physical space.   Casper, which delivers its mattresses folded in a box, has plans to open a fleet of physical stores, according to help wanted ads placed on its website, according to the New York Post.