Real Estate

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners announced the purchase of Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, Florida, which will be added to Forge Real Estate Partners III investment fund. The 123,000 sq. ft. shopping center is currently 98% occupied and is anchored by Publix and also includes Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree.

Whatever you have planned for Saturday, Oct. 10, specialty apparel retailer Ross Dress for Less will probably be busier.

The Ross Stores Inc. banner is opening six new stores, including three in a new market, as well as relocating a store.

British retailer John Lewis has opened one of its largest department stores ever, in the just-opened Grand Central shopping center in Birmingham.

The four-level, 250,000-sq.-ft. department store has a strikingly contemporary design and features several new services and concepts, including a new fashion and lifestyle department, loved&found, and the first John Lewis-branded spa, &Beauty. There is also a market stall-styled food offering, The Place to Eat.

Rincon, Ga. -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. announced the acquisition of Fort Howard Square in Rincon, Georgia, for a purchase price of approximately $11.5 million, using a combination of cash and debt to pay for the property.

The center is 95% leased and anchored by Lowe’s and Walmart Supercenter.

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced the addition of Vic Pildes as senior VP of development and anchor leasing. In this role, Pildes will be responsible for development and municipal related activities for new projects, assist in the identification of new acquisition opportunities and lead anchor leasing efforts throughout Cullinan’s portfolio.

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison & Company announced it has acquired Berry Town Center, located in Davenport, Florida, 15 miles southwest of Orlando. The grocery-anchored shopping center is 99,441 sq. ft. anchored by Publix and features retailers Leslie’s Pool Supplies, Regis, and Linksters Tap Room.

Photos: Dalziel & Pow, London

Mount Holly, N.J. -- Levin Management announced that Physician network Virtua Medical Group has leased 5,800 sq. ft. of space at Fairground Plaza in Mount Holly, New Jersey, where it plans to open its Virtua Express Urgent Care Center. Fairground Plaza is located on Route 541, serving a residential population of more than 81,000 people within a five-mile radius. The center is anchored by Acme supermarket and Staples.