Real Estate

West Sacramento, Calif. – Raley’s Supermarkets is considering hitting the big city. According to The Sacramento Bee, Raley’s is evaluating the launch of a smaller “farmer’s market” store format aimed at hip urban dwellers.

The format would focus on healthy and locally produced items. If Raley’s goes ahead with the concept, it could take up to two years to roll them out. Raley’s is considering opening two of the urban stores in downtown Sacramento.

TreeHouse is a first-of-its-kind home improvement store. Specializing in curated products and services that promote healthy and sustainable spaces, the 25,000-sq.-ft. eco-friendly space is a hub for everything tied to smart, thoughtful building.

TreeHouse is airy and inviting, with skylights and an open feel. There are lots of displays, product vignettes and graphics that explain how things work and tout the benefits of non-toxic paint and the like.

Canton, Mass. – “California, I’ll be knocking on the golden door.” Dunkin’ Donuts executives may find themselves singing these words from the Grateful Dead classic “Estimated Prophet” as the coffee retailer pursues a massive expansion strategy in the most populated U.S. state.

Tampa, Fla. – The U.S. is known as a melting pot, and now a major U.S. casual dining chain wants to turn the world into a melting pot of consumers of its food. The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. has partnered with commercial real estate advisory firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) to support a long-term domestic and international expansion strategy.

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Ross Dress for Less and Ulta Beauty are coming to Randolph Mall in Asheboro, North Carolina. The two new stores will be situated in the former J.C. Penney location.  

Construction is expected to begin in October with the grand opening for both stores scheduled for 2016. Randolph Mall is a 400,000-sq.-ft. mall featuring more than 40 specialty stores and is anchored by Belk, Dunham’s Sports, and Sears.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Stores has some big plans when it comes to opening new stores. Ross is opening of 19 Ross Dress for Less and eight dd's Discounts stores across 15 different states in July.

These new locations are part of the off-price retailer's 2015 expansion plans to add a total of approximately 90 stores during the year, including 70 Ross and 20 dd's Discounts. Ultimately, the retailer believes Ross Dress for Less can grow to 2,000 locations and dd's Discounts can become a chain of 500 stores

Montvale, N.J. – The rumors are true. As expected, the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc. (A&P) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a brief statement on its website, privately held A&P says it has secured financing of $100 million and voluntarily filed for chapter. A&P has also entered agreements to sell 120 stores for $600 million and will close more of its 296 stores in the near future.

Northeast grocery chain A&P may not have been able to make a go of it, but other retailers are already looking to capitalize on the failed supermarket's real estate holdings. 

Ross Stores is crossing off a big chunk of its to-do list as the retailer moves forward with its plans to open 90 stores in 2015.

New York — Macy’s is feeling the heat — from an activist investor and Donald Trump.

Activist investor Starboard Value wants the department store giant to follow the example set by such other retailers and Sears Holdings and Hudsons Bay Company and capitalize on its real estate holdings by spinning them off into a new investment vehicle. 

Starboard claims the move would double Macy’s stock value, Fortune reported. For more click here.