Real Estate

Bridgewater, N.J. -- Women’s apparel retailer, New York & Company, has taken 7,440 sq. ft. in the Somerset Shopping Center in Bridgewater, N.J., according to Levin Management, the property’s leasing and managing agent.

The lease brings the 214,202-sq.-ft. center to full occupancy.

Boston -- Bonefish Grill has signed up for 4,614 sq. ft. at the Wayside Shopping Center in Burlington, Mass., the retailer’s first Massachusetts location, according to The Wilder Cos., Wayside’s leasing, management and development firm.

Part of the multi-phase revitalization of the open-air center, Bonefish anticipates opening in late fall of this year.

National Retail Federation SVP for government relations David French spoke to Fox News' Stuart Varney about D.C.’s decision to pass a living wage bill requiring non-union, big box retailers to pay their employees $12.60 per hour. As a result of the bill's passing, Walmart has scrapped plans to open three stores in the District. While defenders of the bill point out that the living wage is a fair one given cost of living and the still challeneging economic climate, Varney says the District, via its council members, is turning down 2,000 jobs and French agrees.

New York -- The growing appeal of smaller format stores and the increasing number of international moves by emerging market retailers are two of the key trends revealed in the Accenture Globalization Index, Quarter One 2013.

San Diego -- Fixtures Living, which specializes in premium lifestyle products for the home, is changing its name to "PIRCH." The official switchover occurs on Aug. 29.

Sport Chalet has opened its first urban retail concept, at the renovated FIGat7th center in downtown Los Angeles. Sleek and contemporary looking, the 27,000-sq.-ft. store puts the emphasis on education and training, with a dedicated central area, the “Expert Center,” for classes and clinics. It’s designed to facilitate customer interaction with in-store experts on any topic, ranging from bike repair to the area’s best surfing spots.

New York -- The U.S. Green Building Council’s membership has voted to adopt the next version of its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system.

The new update, LEEDv4, will launch this fall at USGBC’s annual Greenbuild convention. It has been expanded to include more building sectors, such as data centers, warehouses and distribution centers.

Another LEED v4 change includes allocating about 20% of all points to optimizing energy performance over the ASHRAE 90.1-2010.

Winson-Salem, N.C. – Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation has completed the sale of three company-owned stores in the Dallas market to Sun Life Holdings LLC as part of a broader agreement where Sun Holdings has agreed to develop 15 additional Krispy Kreme locations in the market during the next five years. Sun Holdings operates nearly 400 restaurants in Texas and Florida, including the Burger King, Popeye's, Arby's, CiCi's, Golden Corral and Del Taco brands. The company also operates 13 T-Mobile stores.

NEW YORK — Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo, a division of Fast Company, is expanding its U.S. footprint with the opening of 10 stores this fall in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California.

The new locations, all in shopping centers, will bring the brand’s presence in the United States to a total of 17 sites.

NEW YORK — Walmart is ditching plans to build three stores in Washington, D.C., after the city council passed a bill on late Wednesday setting a higher minimum wage for large retailers.

“This was a difficult decision for us — and unfortunate news for most D.C. residents — but the council has forced our hand,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo in a statement released after vote, which passed 8 to 5.