Real Estate

Chelsea Bagel leases second Manhattan location
New York City -- Chelsea Bagel, operating on West 14th Street for the past five years, has leased its second Manhattan location.
Retail vacancy rate in central New Jersey at six-year low
Old Bridge, N.J. -- An improved picture in both ‘big-box’ and smaller store spaces combined to push the retail vacancy rate along central New Jersey’s major shopping corridors to a six-year low of 7.6% from 9.8% in 2013, according to the latest study by R.J. Brunelli & Co. Looking back over the past 10 years, the 2014 figure compared with the high of 10.5% in 2011 and low of 3.4% in 2006.

Intersection of Opposites: An inspired approach to shopping center design

By Ahsin Rasheed
Global Franchise Group names Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate

Atlanta -- Global Franchise Group, the brand management company and franchisor behind Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery and Hot Dog on a Stick, has hired Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate. Kmiec will be responsible for directing GFG’s real estate team in the areas of strategic site selection, lease negotiation and store design for franchisees and corporate owned locations.
Fayette Mall expansion officially opens

Lexington, Ky. --CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of the expansion at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky. Designed to significantly enhance the offerings at the shopping center, the redevelopment of the former Sears location included expanding the mall entrance to create 115,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for a mix of fashion stores, home furnishings and fine dining options in the heart of the shopping center.
Starbucks’ redesigned Seattle outpost

Seattle -- Starbucks’ new outpost in the Fremont section of Seattle fits right in with the artsy neighborhood. The company moved from a smaller store in the area to a spacious two-level corner site, complete with a mezzanine.
Sears plans to convert its property in Aventura, Fla., to mixed-use development

Aventura, Fla. -- In another move to capitalize on its extensive real estate portfolio, Sears Holdings Corp. has submitted plans to the City of Aventura in Florida for the redevelopment of the Sears property at Aventura Mall into an open-air village that will feature retail, restaurants, offices and a hotel.
Topshop opens its largest U.S. store

New York -- British fast-fashion retailer Topshop, a unit of Arcadia Group, opened a flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, close to Rockefeller Center.
JLL adds retail expertise in San Francisco Bay area

San Francisco--JLL announced that it has expanded its retail brokerage practice in Northern California with the addition of Jamie Kendall as VP. Kendall will be based in the firm’s San Francisco office, and will partner with the firm’s existing retail, agency leasing and investment sales teams to help maximize the value of retail assets for JLL’s growing client base in downtown San Francisco.
Kate Spade, Lululemon opening at Highland Village

Jackson, Miss. -- Kate Spade New York and Lululemon Athletica are both opening their first permanent Mississippi locations, as Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based WS Development announced the retailers’ grand opening plans at Highland Village in Jackson, Miss.

Chelsea Bagel leases second Manhattan location

Retail vacancy rate in central New Jersey at six-year low

Intersection of Opposites: An inspired approach to shopping center design

Global Franchise Group names Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate

Fayette Mall expansion officially opens

Starbucks’ redesigned Seattle outpost

Sears plans to convert its property in Aventura, Fla., to mixed-use development

Topshop opens its largest U.S. store

JLL adds retail expertise in San Francisco Bay area

Kate Spade, Lululemon opening at Highland Village