Real Estate

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Inland Real Estate Acquisitions announced the acquisition of five properties in September on behalf of Inland related parties totaling nearly 500,000 sq. ft. across five states. The acquisitions collectively total $138.4 million in purchase price.

Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm, has completed a 3,469-sq.-ft. lease on behalf of Crossroads Trading.

Crossroads Trading will open its first Texas location in Central Houston’s Montrose neighborhood in the Westmont building. Crossroads Trading buys, sells and accepts trade-ins of used clothing and accessories.

Velocity Retail Group, a full-service commercial real estate services company based in Phoenix, has secured a 10-year lease for Beall’s Outlet.

Beal’s Outlet will join the lineup at Westporte Village in Glendale, Arizona. The 23,600-sq.-ft. space is slated to open in November 2015. Velocity Retail Group VP Michael Clark and associate VPs Larry Miller and John Jackson represented the landlord. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented the tenant.

Ikea plans to install a solar energy system atop its Las Vegas store, opening summer 2016.

Panel installation will begin this winter, with completion expected in spring for what Ikea says will be the largest single-use rooftop solar array by a retailer in the state of Nevada. The 351,000-sq.-ft. future Ikea Las Vegas, and 1,300 parking spaces, currently is under construction.

Montgomery, Ala. -- Jim Wilson & Associates announced the addition of Doug Jeffords, VP of construction, and Evan Conder, development director.

Walnut Creek, Calif. -- Macerich announced 45 retailers set to join Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, California. The center, anchored by Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy's, is undergoing a major renovation that will add 315,000 sq. ft. of new space, parking, new finishes and refreshed outdoor amenities.

Microsoft is opening its first Manhattan flagship store, with a major competitor conveniently nearby.

Microsoft Corp. has opened its first Manhattan flagship, within blocks of its major competitor.

The new Microsoft store is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, just several blocks away from Apple's Manhattan flagship with its famed glass cube entry. Microsoft has been planning the five-floor, 22,369-sq.-ft. store for more than six years.