Real Estate

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea announced solar energy is planned for its store under construction in Sweetwater, Fla., which is in the Miami-metro area. Pending permits, installation of solar panels on the store’s roof will begin in several months, with completion by grand opening in summer 2014. Ikea contracted with REC Solar for the development, design and installation of the 416,000-sq.-ft. store’s customized solar power system.

Covington, La. — Sam’s Club will join the tenant lineup at Stirling Bossier Shopping Center in Bossier City, La., according to an announcement by Stirling Properties. Construction of the new club store is underway. It is scheduled to open in the summer of 2014.

O’Connor Capital Partners, a privately owned, independent real estate investment, development and management firm, has named Glenn J. Rufrano as chairman and CEO.

Rufrano was a founding partner of the O’Connor Group, the firm’s original incarnation, and has served on the board since 2010. He has also acquired a full partnership stake in the firm.  

New York — Adding to existing locations in Manhattan and Miami Beach, Big Drop, the women’s clothing retailer, has leased a third New York City storefront at 253 Columbus Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The new store has 650 sq. ft. on the ground floor plus a 400-sq.-ft. storage basement.

Winick Realty Group represented Big Drop in the long-term lease transaction. Parkway East Properties LLL, the landlord negotiated on its own behalf.

Big Drop’s other Manhattan stores are in SoHo and the Upper East Side.

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Cafe announced the company has signed two new multi-unit franchise agreements to open new restaurants in Arizona and introduce its first restaurants in Wisconsin beginning in 2014.

The fast-casual brand's new franchise partners include Blue Mountain Cafes, which plans to open 13 restaurants in Phoenix over the next seven years and Neo Fourno Inc., which plans to open ten new restaurants in Madison and Milwaukee over the next five years

New York -- European Wax Center, a national chain offering waxing services for men and women, has taken space in two upper west side locations, according to Winick Realty Group, which represented the tenant in both transactions.

European Wax Center will occupy 1,500 sq. ft. at 2409 Broadway between 88th and 89th Streets. NGKF represented the landlord, 2409 Broadway Associates.

New York -- The Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers saga continues with reports that Men’s Wearhouse will review a previously rejected merger with Jos. A. Bank Clothiers.

Eminence Capital LLC, Men's Wearhouse largest single shareholder, said the retailer is still exploring its strategic options, including a possible merger with Jos. A. Bank, the Associated Press reported. The New York-based hedge fund has urged the retailer to quickly engage with Jos. A. Bank over the merger offer that Men's Wearhouse turned down in October.

Issaquah, Wash. — Construction is nearing completion on Issaquah Highlands’ new shopping and entertainment district, Grand Ridge Plaza. The Regency Centers Corp. center, which broke ground in the summer of 2012, is in the midst of its busiest rollout stretch, which features the grand opening of a Safeway grocery store.