Real Estate

Clifton, N.J. — Blink Fitness has leased a 15,000-sq.-ft. location at the 80,000-sq.-ft. Clifton Plaza shopping center in Clifton, N.J., according to Levin Management (www.levinmgt.com), the property’s managing and leasing agent.

Co-anchored by a 24,000-sq.-ft. Big Lots and a 14,000-sq.-ft. Dollar Tree, Clifton Plaza’s tenant roster includes GameStop, Radio Shack, Angel Tip Nails & Spa, Bruno’s Pizza, Sally Beauty Supply and Valley National Bank.

Dallas, Texas — Studio Movie Grill has acquired two leases for a 51,935-sq.-ft. building at the Town Center of Colleyville in Colleyville, Texas, according to Venture Commercial, the broker on the lease sale and assignment transaction.

Following extensive renovations to the former Colleyville Cinema, the new Studio Movie Grill plans to open in late May.

New York — H&M will open its largest store to date, a 57,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, on July 17.  The massive, museum-inspired store will carry the fast-fashion’s entire product line-up, including maternity, newborn, special sizes along with childrenswear, men’s and women’s apparel, and cosmetics. It will also feature a home department and in-shop stores for accessories and lingerie.

It looks like Sycamore Partners, which owns approximately 9.9% of Express’ outstanding shares, is interested in acquiring the retailer.

Express confirmed that it has received a letter from Sycamore and has established a special committee of the board to determine a course of action that serves the best interest of all stockholders. The retailer has also engaged Perella Weinberg Partners LP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as advisers to itself and the special committee.

New York City — Forever 21 has taken space at the Mall at Bay Plaza, which is scheduled to open on August 14. The new store will span about 15,000 sq. ft.

A new 166,000-sq.-ft. Macy’s and an existing 150,000-sq.-ft. J.C. Penney will anchor the new mall. Forever 21 will join more than 100 retailers at Bay Plaza, including Kay Jewelers, Victoria Secret, H&M and Michael Kors.

Queens, N.Y. — A new retail building is reportedly planned for the site of a former adult entertainment club in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens. According to the Queens Chronicle, a 20,000-sq.-ft. building will occupy the location once occupied by the Goldfingers nightclub, which has been shuttered since 1999.  

With an 18% same store sales increase and a 217% profit improvement in the first quarter no wonder Restoration Hardware is looking to add 31 new stores to its 69 current locations.

The company is on track to open stores in Los Angeles and Atlanta later this year and is adding two floors to its top-performing store in New York. In addition, Restoration Hardware chairman and CEO Gary Friedman said the company has signed leases for six of its stores called “next-generation full line design galleries,” and is in negotiations for 25 additional locations.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR Corp. and an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII have announced the formation of a third joint venture to acquire 76 shopping centers currently owned by American Realty Capital Properties, Inc.

The joint venture will acquire the portfolio in a transaction valued at $1.975 billion, including assumed debt of $461 million and approximately $800 million of new financings.