Restaurant

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties announced that, through a joint venture between it and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, has acquired The Avenue Webb Gin outdoor mixed-use shopping center from Atlanta-based Cousins Properties.

Change — how to make it happen and effectively manage it — topped the agenda at Chain Store Age’s 10th annual Executive SPECS conference. Executives from some of the nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains and suppliers and service providers in store planning, construction and facilities management attended the event, which was held in November at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, Las Vegas.

Not even a hurricane named Sandy could erode the economic upsurge experienced by the northeastern United States over the last year. What this region rebuilt after the Great Recession has managed to stay strong even in the face of Sandy’s 80-mph winds, record flooding and the damage inflicted by its nor’easter sister that arrived just days after the fall 2012 hurricane.

ATLANTA — Former Home Depot executive Michael Esposito has joined HoneyBaked as its new VP, human resources, a newly created position. Esposito previously served as director of associate relations for the Home Depot’s northern division.

Tommy Bahama has dropped anchor in Manhattan, opening a 13,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Fifth Avenue. It’s the island-inspired brand’s first store in the Big Apple, and also its biggest location to date, with 5,000 sq. ft. of retail, along with a 1,300-sq.-ft. bar on the first floor, and 6,700-sq.-ft. restaurant on the second floor.

Chino Hills, Calif. -- The Shoppes at Chino Hills is bringing Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches, joining recent tenants Crème de la Crème Bakery, Icy-Licious shaved ice, Sleep Number bed shop, and What Lola Wants women’s apparel at the Chino Hills, Calif., shopping center.

The 375,000-sq.-ft. community/lifestyle center also features a newly expanded A&M Home Décor.

San Francisoco -- Westfield announced that its Westfield San Francisco Centre is unveiling new culinary and retail offerings such as British casual sportswear retailer Burberry Brit, Red Valentino, Italian fashion house Gucci, the Christmas Treasure pop up holiday shop, celebrity chef Martin Yan’s M.Y. China, Godiva Truffle Bar and more.
 

Corpus Christi, Texas -- IMI and Trademark Property Group announced that its La Palmera mall in Corpus Christi, Texas, will be joined by a 6,5000-sq.-ft. Longhorn Steakhouse in 2013, along with Papaya, which opened 6,350-sq.-ft. store, and Flip Flop Shops. Pandora will open a 1,703-sq.-ft. store before the holidays.

La Palmera is a 1-million-sq.-ft. super-regional mall featuring Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, P.F. Chang’s and Coach.