Neiman Marcus

Dallas -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors, said Tuesday that Venture Commercial, through its Venturetainment division, assisted with site-selection efforts and completed two leases for global visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments Group to bring two of its iconic attraction brands to the Texas market for the first time.

Short Hills, N.J. -- Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman Co. announced that The Cheesecake Factory and Forever 21 will open at the company’s Mall at Short Hills, located in Short Hills, N.J.
 
Cheesecake Factory is slated to open a full-service restaurant, bakery and bar this summer. Forever 21 will open a 40,000+-sq.-ft. store in late 2011.

The Mall at Short Hills features 160 specialty stores and restaurants along with anchors Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced that its Town Center at Boca Raton shopping mall is celebrating the grand opening of two national retail debuts, a Florida first in dining and several other upscale additions.

Recently, Swiss watch manufacturer Ulysse Nardin opened its first freestanding U.S. boutique at Town Center at Boca Raton. Prior to the holidays, gold vending machine, the GOLD to go ATM, opened.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 30 tripled to $25.7 million, compared with $8.5 million in the year-ago period. The retailer cited more full-price selling, higher customer traffic and lower costs for the strong performance.

The operator of its namesake and Bergdorf Goodman stores saw sales rise 6.7% to $927 million. Same-store sales increased 6.4% following a 14% plunge a year ago.