Smoothie King

New Orleans -- Smoothie King Franchises said Monday it plans to open 70 franchise and 30 corporate locations across the U.S. in 2013.

Since December 2012, the smoothie franchise has acquired six additional locations in Florida and Texas, bringing the total number of corporate stores to seven. The company also has opened six new franchise locations since the start of the year.

Each year, in December, Chain Store Age publishes a retail overview of the northeastern quadrant of the United States and, each year, there’s not a lot of bad news to report, even in recessionary times. This year is no exception; in fact, despite a superstorm that ravaged much of the region, the economic engine continues to chug along.

Don’t let the grocery sector shake-ups fool you.

While there are individual failures, the category as a whole continues to find favor among developers that place a premium on having a traffic magnet in their shopping centers.

Carmel, Ind. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group said that Panera Bread will open a 4,019-sq.-ft. location at Rangeline Crossing, formerly named The Centre, in Carmel, Inc.

Old National Bank will open a 5,600-sq.-ft. outlotat the 83,533-sq.-ft. center, which is currently undergoing a redevelopment.

The landlord is KRG Centre.

New York -- Lord & Taylor has opened an 80,000-sq.-ft. store in Ridge Hill center, Westchester, N.Y.

The store, which cost a reported $30 million to build, has a very contemporary look and spacious feel, with large Italian white tiles throughout.

Garden City, N.Y. -- Sabre Real Estate Group said that Scott Sher has been named senior VP of the retail real estate brokerage firm.

Formerly director of real estate-northeastern region at Katz & Associates Corp., of Pearl River, Sher specializes in tenant and landlord representation in the New Jersey, Manhattan, Outer Boroughs, Westchester and Long Island markets.
 

New York City -- The Feil Organization announced a lease has been signed with Morton Williams for a gourmet specialty food store at 140 West 57th Street in Manhattan.

Morton Williams will occupy three levels totaling 14,984 sq. ft. at the Landmark office building. The New York-based grocer operates 12 stores in New York City, Westchester and New Jersey. The 57th Street location will be the company's thirteenth store.

New York City -- Target has partnered with two local developers to purchase a 7.9-acre United States Postal Service site in the Throgs Neck section of Bronx, N.Y., for $35.2 million, where they plan to build a 300,000-sq.-ft. mall, according to New York Read Estate News.

Cleveland -- Lord & Taylor and Forest City Enterprises on Friday announced that Lord & Taylor will open a new, 80,000-sq.-ft. store to anchor Westchester's Ridge Hill, Forest City's outdoor retail/mixed-use development, currently under construction in Yonkers, N.Y. This will be the first new, full-line Lord & Taylor to open since 2001.

The new location will showcase the retailer's latest store design and will offer a mix of the best fashion, accessories, beauty and fragrance brands, as well as gifts and home accessories.

New York City -- Forest City Ratner Cos., a subsidiary of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, announced Thursday that Dick's Sporting Goods, Orvis and REI, along with three national restaurant chains making their New York debuts, have join the growing tenant line-up at Westchester's Ridge Hill.