Real Estate

Chattanooga, Tenn. — CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. has closed on an $80 million non-recourse loan secured by The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, a 75/25 joint venture with Horizon Group Properties. The 10-year loan bears a 4.9% fixed interest rate. Proceeds from the loan were used to repay a $53.2 million recourse construction loan. CBL www.cblproperties.com used its share of the remaining funds to reduce outstanding balances on the company’s unsecured credit facilities.

North Bergen, N.J. – Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. has opened a new 311,740-sq.-ft. distribution center in Ashland, Va. The center began receiving inbound inventory in June 2013 and outbound shipments to stores began in September 2013.

As of October 15, 2013, the center was shipping inventory to 56 Vitamin Shoppe stores located in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. The center, which was built to the Vitamin Shoppe's specifications, features state-of-the art conveyor and picking and packing systems to move goods and orders throughout the facility.

Uniqlo has opened a pop-up store in the 14th Street-Union Square subway station in Manhattan, and is incentivizing holiday shoppers by offering them a $5 Metro Card in a limited-edition sleeve with any purchase. The pop-shop will be open through the holidays.

“This shop fits perfectly with our strong belief in the fundamental power of clothing to improve people’s lives, and our hope is that it will provide people with comfort and warmth during the winter season,” said Larry Meyer, COO of Uniqlo USA.
 

Centreville, Va. — Sleepy’s The Mattress Professionals has opened a 6,700-sq.-ft. store in Centreville Square II on Lee Highway in Centreville, Va.

A.J. Dwoskin represented the landlord in the lease negotiations. Centreville Square II is a 200,366-sq.-ft. neighborhood center. Current tenants include Party Depot, Five Guys, Wells Fargo, Hair Cuttery and The UPS Store.

Seattle — Skanska USA Commercial Development Inc. has broken ground on 400 Fairview alongside its first major office tenant — Tommy Bahama.

Skanska is the first developer to start work in the South Lake Union area of Seattle since the City Council rezoned the one-time industrial hub for office and retail.

The 400 Fairview building will be a 13-story tower with 320,000 sq. ft. of office space and 17,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Skanska is targeting LEED Gold certification on the building.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores detailed a number of moves, including opening smaller stores in the United States, cutting back on overseas growth and increasing its investments in technology and e-commerce,  on the occasion of the  company’s 20th annual investor meeting.

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. will open a 21,000-sq.-ft. Carson’s Store Clearance Center located at The Landings Shopping Center in Lansing, Ill., on Oct. 19. Bon-Ton operates 272 department stores, which includes 10 furniture galleries, in 25 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates.

New York — Winick Realty Group has negotiated leases bringing three new retailers to the Flatbush Avenue retail Corridor in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Starbucks, Game Champ and Cohen’s Fashion Optical will all open doors at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension, a full-block retail site anchored by Applebee’s and McDonald’s.

Winick represented landlord Rabina Properties in all three transactions.