Real Estate

Ikea is going big in Memphis. The home furnishings giant plans to install the largest rooftop solar array in the state of Tennessee at its new store in Memphis. The 271,000-sq.-ft. Memphis Ikea is scheduled to open in late fall 2016, and panel installation for the solar energy system will begin this summer.

Petco is expanding its store portfolio and distribution center network. In keeping with its 2016 growth plan, which includes 27 new store openings year-to-date, Petco will open a new distribution center on May 11, 2016, in Reno, Nevada. The company will also open a new Unleashed by Petco store in Maryland, and re-open a newly expanded Southern California Petco store in place of a previous Unleashed by Petco locations.

ICSC’s annual RECon convention has long been a rite of spring for many real estate professionals. For three decades, RECon has brought dealmakers and decision-makers to Las Vegas, and today the event regularly attracts more than 30,000 attendees.

Target Corp. has lined up Greek yogurt giant Chobani to open an café in its upcoming store in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. The 45,000-sq.-ft. store, opening this October, will feature a Chobani Café. The cafe will have a natural theme, offering items made with Chobani’s signature Greek yogurt and hand-selected, artisanal ingredients. Also on the menu: sandwiches, soups, coffee and desserts, all made with only natural ingredients.

Dollar General Corp. has announced plans to build what will be its 15th fqcility in the discounter’s growing distribution network. The discounter has purchased land in Jackson, Georgia to serve as the location for the new distribution center it plans to construct in the central part of the state.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings has entered the Sunshine State, opening a store in Orlando, Florida. The new location represents the extreme discounter’s 208th store and 18th state of operation. In keeping with the company’s strategy of expanding into contiguous states and new markets, Ollie’s plans to open a total of six to nine stores in the state of Florida this year and 28-32 new stores overall across the eastern half of the United States in 2016.

Schimenti Construction has begun work on Dick's Sporting Goods' store in Melville, New York, managing an open store remodel/tenant fit-out of the approximately 95,000-sq.-ft. space.

Abercrombie & Fitch is expanding its presence in the Middle East. The retailer has entered into an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim Fashion to open stores in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Since 2013, Abercrombie, in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, has opened eight stores in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.