Real Estate

Melville, N.Y. – Sbarro LLC has reportedly filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time since 2011. According to Reuters, Sbarro wants to reduce its debt by 80% via a pre-packaged reorganization that would allow it to exit bankruptcy before May 7, 2014.

Most of Sbarro’s creditors reportedly support the plan, which it said is necessitated by declining mall traffic and an unsustainable balance sheet. The plan requires court approval and Sbarro will reportedly also seek better offers from potential buyers.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Domino's Pizza is opening its first store in Paraguay. Grupo Vierci, master franchisee for Domino’s Pizza Paraguay, plans to open three new stores in the Asuncion area of the country by the end of May 2014.

New York — An ~exhale MINDBODYSPA has leased 3,027-sq.-ft. location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, where Flatiron and Chelsea meet. It is a strong retail neighborhood with national fashion and specialty retailers along Fifth Avenue including Anthropologie, J.Crew, Club Monaco, kate spade, Nike, Intermix and Sephora. There are larger format retailers in the area, too: Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, Sports Authority, Staples, Men’s Wearhouse, Trader Joe’s and Marshalls along Sixth Avenue.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR has signed a letter of intent to sell its 50% ownership interest in Sonae Sierra Brazil BV Sarl, a Luxembourg company, to Alexander Otto and his affiliates for $343.6 million. DDR’s interest in SSB BV Sarl represents the company’s entire investment in Brazil. The gross proceeds of $346.6 million include $283 million from the negotiated price of R$26.00 per share of SSB, a 67% premium to the closing price on the IBOVESPA as of March 7, and DDR’s stake in Parque Dom Pedro, valued at $60.7 million.

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Stores recently opened a total of 30 Ross Dress for Less and seven DD’s Discounts stores in 14 different states. These openings are part of the off-price retailer's 2014 expansion plans for about 95 new stores, which will include continuing to build presence in existing markets and grow in the newer markets initially entered in 2011.

Ross believes that long-term expansion opportunities include 2,000 Ross Dress for Less stores and 500 DD’s Discounts stores.

Houston -- Mattress Firm Holding Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire the outstanding equity interests of Sleep Experts Partners L.P., which operates Sleep Experts retail stores in Texas. In addition, Mattress Firm completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and operations of Yotes, Inc., which operated stores under the Mattress Firm brand in Colorado and Kansas, as well as the Virginia retail operations of Southern Max LLC.

White House | Black Market creates a welcoming ambience at its store in Yorkdale Centre, Toronto, the company’s first location outside the United States. The 3,063-sq.-ft. space has the look and feel of an intimate boutique.

Dallas — Crunch Fitness is coming to Texas. Dallas entrepreneur, author and founder of Planet Tan, Tony Hartl plans to roll out eight to 10 Crunch Fitness locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area by 2016.

Columbus, Ohio — Lane Bryant has opened a new store at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, a lifestyle center in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

The grand opening celebration will take place March 7 – 9. Lane Bryant, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group, owns and operates 805 stores nationwide.
 

Birmingham, Ala. — Whole Foods Market has signed a lease for 40,000 sq. ft. at The Summit in Lexington, Ky. Currently under development by Bayer Properties LLC www.bayerproperties.com, The Summit Lexington is a mixed-use project with 450,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurants plus 306 multi-family residential units.

Phase I of the project will open during the spring of 2016 with 340,000 sq. ft. of retail and the full complement of the planned 306 residential units. Phase II will add 110,000 sq. ft. of retail.