JCPenney Co.

At a time when sluggish-to-modest industry numbers have seemingly become the norm, and a protracted economic recovery inches forward, the recent spate of seemingly good retail and economic news has industry analysts and observers like myself raising a collective eyebrow.

Atlanta — CBL & Associates Properties has closed the sale of Lakeshore Mall to a private investor for $14 million. JLL brokered the transaction.

Belk, Bealls, Kmart, J.C. Penney and Carmike Cinema anchor the 490,086-sq.-ft. retail center in Sebring, Florida. A nearby Sears is a shadow anchor.

With its 95% occupancy rate, Lakeshore Mall anchors the retail hub that serves central Florida along U.S. Highway 27, the major north-south thoroughfare. Traffic counts average about 38,500 vehicles per day.

The recent announcement from Coldwater Creek that the women’s apparel brand will seek Chapter 11 protection and plans to start liquidating its inventory didn’t exactly come as a surprise. It has been years since the company posted a quarterly profit, and industry analysts and observers have been pointing to Coldwater’s worrying inability to compete stylistically in an increasingly competitive and youth-oriented women’s fashion market.

Atlanta — JLL has announced the closing of the sale of Market Square at Montrose on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management to HP Realty LLC. Purchased for $32.5 million, the 510,231-sq.-ft. retail center hosts anchors Home Depot, J.C. Penney, Levin Furniture, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Regal Cinemas, Toys “R” Us and Cost Plus World Market.

“Akron and similar cities are back in favor with investors,” commented Kris Cooper, a JLL managing director.

Rosemary Ricketts and Steve Bohman, retail executives with extensive mass market experience, have joined upscale brand Vera Bradley in key roles.

Ricketts was named vp of merchandising and Bohman was named vp of global production at the leading designer of women's handbags and accessories, luggage and travel items, eyewear, stationery and gifts.

Littleton, Colo. — General Growth Properties plans to redevelop its 1.3 million-sq.-ft. Southwest Plaza in southwest Denver. The multi-million dollar project will renovate Center Court with open-air cafes, new seating areas, free WiFi access for social networking, new directional signage, indoor fireplaces, skylights and light coves.

Oak Brook, Ill. — Inland Real Estate Corporation has announced the acquisition of Mokena Marketplace in Mokena, Ill., an affluent suburb located within the Chicago metropolitan area for $13.7 million in cash.

Chattanooga, Tenn. — The Cheesecake Factory and H&M will open at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky., as part of a redevelopment by owner CBL & Associates Properties.

The redevelopment will renovate a former Sears store and expand the mall entrance to create 115,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for a mix of fashion and home furnishing stores and restaurants. Construction has begun, and CBL expects the work to be completed this fall.