Real Estate

New York – Ann Inc., parent of Ann Taylor and Loft. is reportedly working with financial firm JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential sale. According to Bloomberg, the $1.6 billion Ann Inc. has spoken with other retail chains and at least two buyout firms and a private equity firm.

Fort Worth, Texas – RadioShack Corp. has received bankruptcy court approval to sell more than 1,100 stores it plans to close by the end of this month. According to Reuters, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Shannon in Wilmington, Delaware, has officially approved the closing and auctioning of the stores.

Milwaukee -- Contracts are finalized and on-site work will soon begin on The Corners of Brookfield, a new 750,000-sq.-ft. premier lifestyle center that will be located on approximately 19 acres of land bounded by West Bluemound Road, North Barker Road and I-94 near Milwaukee.

The final development agreement has been signed with the Town of Brookfield, demolition of the vacant Menards building on The Corners project site will begin in the coming weeks and a formal groundbreaking is planned for spring 2015.

Washington, D.C. – Regional pizza chain &pizza may not have the recognition or reach of its larger competitors, bur the company is taking a step in that direction with a $10 million investment for growth and expansion. The company plans to leverage the investment, along with the investors' experience in branded consumer retail, for expansion of its stores in key markets.  

Currently, &pizza operates nine locations in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, with six more slated to open in the first half of 2015.

Cedar Hill, Texas -- Trademark Property Co., the operating partner for Uptown Village at Cedar Hill, has announced a multi-million dollar renovation of the 610,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in Cedar Hill, Texas; the redo includes a re-brand, enhanced entrances, upgraded landscaping, common area improvements, a new children’s play area, new amenities for adults and children, and new signage throughout the property.

In addition, Trademark is working with several prospective junior anchors to add to the merchandising mix.
 

Are you one of America's Top Developers, Acquirers or Third-Party Managers? Chain Store Age will release the results of the 26th Annual Top Developers and Fastest-Growing Acquirers and 3P Managers in the May 2015 issue distributed at the RECon show in Las Vegas.

The three surveys measure retail and shopping center space developed, acquired and contracted for management/leasing during the 2014 calendar year.  The top five or six companies in each category (by square footage) will be ranked in the May issue. In short:  
 

RadioShack has received court approval for its plan to sell the leases to more than 1,100 stores that it will close by the end of February, according to Reuters.

Seattle -- Nordstrom Inc.’s fourth-quarter net income fell a lower-than-expected 4.9% to $255 million, down from $268 million a year earlier, even as its same-store sales topped expectations. The profit decline came amid higher costs, including those related to tech upgrades and its acquisition of Trunk Club, and increased promotions at Nordstrom Rack.