Restaurant

Atlanta -- Developer OliverMcMillan has secured a $167 million syndicated construction loan, led by PNC Capital Markets, LLC, to finance construction of Buckhead Atlanta, the mixed-use retail, residential and office development located in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

The loan will cover the full construction of the six-block, 8-acre complex. Five lenders are involved, including PNC Bank, N.A., CIT Finance LLC, Compass Bank, Regions Bank and SunTrust Banks.

Pittsburgh – GNC Holdings Inc. has elected Alan D. Feldman and Robert F. Moran to its board of directors. Feldman most recently served as chairman, president and CEO of Midas Inc. from May 2006 until its merger with TBC Corporation in May 2012 and as its president and CEO from January 2003 until May 2006.  Prior to that, Feldman held senior management posts at McDonald's Corporation and the Pizza Hut and Frito-Lay units of Pepsico. Feldman also currently serves on the board of directors of Foot Locker Inc.

Seattle – Starbucks is testing new drink options including handmade sodas and a coffee beverage known as “cold foam mocha.” As reported by the Starbucks Melody blog (which is not affiliated with the retailer), last month Starbucks began the second phase of a carbonated beverage test including proprietary root beer and ginger ale at select locations in Atlanta and Austin.

Alexandria, Va. -- Voila Pastry & Café has leased 1,600 sq. ft. in Huntington Station Shopping Center in Alexandria, Va.

Paraclete Realty represented Voila Pastry, and A.J. Dwoskin & Associates represented the shopping center in the transaction.

Richmond, Va. -- Five retailers have signed five leases, taking a total of 23,700 sq. ft. of retail space in the metropolitan Richmond, Va., market, according to Divaris Real Estate, Inc., the broker representing the retailers.

Greer, S.C. -- Buffets, the parent company of six family style steak buffet restaurant chains, has named Chip Romp to the newly created position of VP Training and Jay Allen to Senior VP Real Estate and Development.

A 20-year training veteran, Romp comes to the company from the Italian Fast Casual concept Fazoli’s, where he served as VP Training, Development & Ops Services. He also has training experience with Applebee’s International, Damon’s International and Jillian’s Entertainment.

Broomfield, Colo. – Famous Brands International, parent company of TCBY Yogurt and Mrs. Fields Cookies, has appointed Neal Courtney as CEO. Neal had been serving as the company's interim CEO since February and served as COO since May 2012.

Miami -- Three new retailers opened at The Palms at Town and Country in Miami during May. They include a 23,070l-sq.-ft. Total Wine & More, a 2,518-sq.-ft. Voodoo BBQ & Grill, a New Orleans-style barbecue restaurant, and a 2,119-sq.-ft. Crazy 8, a kids’ line retailer from Gymboree Corp.

Under construction now and opening in November is a 47,982-sq.-ft. DICK’s Sporting Goods.