Hospitality

Peoria, Ill. — Called The Levee District, the 86-acre new downtown going up in East Peoria, Ill., will include 500,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space as well as office, hotel and civic components.

Four new retailers recently inked leases for space in The Levee District.

Construction is well underway on a 10,400-sq.-ft. space next to Gordmans to be occupied by Shoe Dept Encore. The new store plans to open in the spring of 2014.

Milwaukee — The Marcus Corporation has announced the initial line-up of tenants at The Corners of Brookfield, an open-air, town-center-style development in Brookfield, Wis. The mixed-use 460,000-sq.-ft. development will be anchored by Wisconsin’s first Von Maur department store, which will span 140,000 sq. ft.

The announcement followed a vote by the Brookfield Board approving the development agreement between the town and Marcus. The agreement provides for tax incremental financing for the project.

Los Angeles — The largest residential development currently under construction in downtown Los Angeles, One Santa Fe has been “topped out” by Bernards, the commercial builder directing the project.

Construction companies “top out” projects when they add the last beam to the top of a building.

Northbrook, Ill. — StreetMac Asset Managers and Five Mile Capital Partners LLC have joined forces to recapitalize Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, Ill.

The 1.3 million-sq.-ft. mall features more than 100 stores and restaurants, a 14-screen cinema complex and national retail anchors including Macy’s, Sears, Carson Pirie Scott, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Burlington Coat Factory.

Cincinnati -- Macy’s announced an agreement for Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores to anchor the new Mall at Miami Worldcenter, to be built in downtown Miami. Current plans call for the stores to open in fall 2016.

Miami Worldcenter, a major mixed-use project with retail, hotel, residential and convention space, is being planned by The Forbes Company and Taubman Centers.

Tempe, Ariz. -- Togo's Eateries has opened its first restaurant in Tempe, Ariz., owned by current Togo's franchisees, Monty and Diana Coury, who opened the first Togo's restaurant in Gilbert, Ariz., last year.

"Since opening our first restaurant in Gilbert, we've seen a tremendous amount of support from the community and there is still a huge potential for growth in the market,” said Monty Coury.

Los Angeles -- John Dawson has been named president and CEO of coffee and tea retailer Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, charged with accelerating the chain’s plans for global growth.

Sharon, Pa. -- Casual-dining brand Quaker Steak & Lube announced an area development agreement with Bosselman Food Services to open two locations in Nebraska and one in Iowa, which will mark the brand's entrance into the state of Nebraska. Bosselman Food Services plans to open one Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant per year in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

"We look forward to the opening of our first restaurant next year, and are excited for a great future with Quaker Steak & Lube," said Charlie Bosselman, president of the Bosselman Cos.