Real Estate

New York – J. Crew is reportedly planning to expand into Asia. According to the Wall Street Journal, J. Crew will open two new stores in Hong Kong on May 21.

The Hong Kong stores will be J. Crew’s first Asian stores since it closed its stores in Japan in 2008. In 2012, J. Crew said it planned to open stores in Hong Kong, and the U.K., and opened three U.K. stores in 2013. The retailer plans to open five or six stores in Hong Kong in the next few years, and may also open new stores in Japan.

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to open 30 new China-based stores and remodel 55 of its 400 existing stores there during 2014, as well as open new China distribution centers. The China activity is part of Wal-Mart’s larger three-year plan for growth in the country.

Wal-Mart will spend $93 million on the store remodeling. The activity this year will be the first major initiative from new China CEO Sean Clarke.

New York -- Apple is celebrating its 13th year as a brick-and-mortar retailer. The tech giant opened its first retail store on the morning of May 19, 2001, at Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Virginia. A second Apple store, at Glendale Galleria, Glendale, California, opened a few hours later.

To see an animated map (13 Years of Apple Stores in 60 Seconds) from Retale charting the expansion of Apple stores in the U.S., click here.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Mall operator Taubman, through its preferred vendor, Single Digits, will offer free basic Internet access to all tenants in 20 of the regional and super regional malls it manages across the U.S. Beginning in the summer, a business-class T1 equivalent service will be offered free of charge to tenants leasing space in Taubman-owned and managed properties.

Gainesville, Fla. — Bass Pro Shops has announced plans for a new store in Gainesville, Florida. Slated to open in 2016, the planned 80,000-sq.-ft. store will anchor Celebration Pointe, a one-million-sq.-ft. mixed-use development that will include retail, restaurants, entertainment, a hotel and residential units. The property lies in the northwest quadrant of Interstate 75 and Archer Road.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is recruiting franchisees in Roanoke, Virginia. This month, the retailer signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee Greg Nigro to develop 13 new restaurants throughout Richmond, Virginia.

Hamilton, Bermuda - Signet Jewelers Ltd. has closed the offering of $400 million senior unsecured notes due 2024 by Signet U.K. Finance PLC (a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Signet). The notes will bear interest at a rate of 4.7% per year and mature on June 15, 2024.

Las Vegas — DeBartolo Development has retained JLL Retail to manage the new Ka Makana Ali’i shopping center in Kapolei, West Oahu, considered the fastest growing area in Hawaii. The $500-million project will span 67 acres of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands at the intersection of the Kapolei and Kualaka’i Parkways. Upon completion Ka Makana Ali’i will be the third largest shopping center in Hawaii.