Restaurant

Springfield, Mass. -- Charter Realty & Development Corp. said that it has arranged for a 2,500-sq.-ft. lease for McDonald’s located in the Springfield Plaza in Springfield, Mass.

Springfield Plaza is a 550,000-sq.-ft. center anchored by Kmart, Rocky's, TJ Maxx, Ocean State Job Lot, Savers, Stop & Shop and Entertainment Cinema. McDonald’s will be locating on a site formerly occupied by KFC. Construction is expected to start shortly, said Charter.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. will open stores across the Scandinavian region in a partnership with Umoe Restaurant Group AS, a leading chain of service establishments in Scandinavia.

The first locations are expected to open in 2013 in Sweden and Norway.

Michelle Gass, president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa commented: “We are proud to increase our presence in Scandinavia as part of our growth strategy in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and further develop stores where our customers want and expect us to be

New York -- BFC Partners, a New York real estate development company, announced plans to develop a new retail complex and hotel, with the working name of Harbor Commons, on a site adjacent to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George, Staten Island, N.Y.
 
Harbor Commons will be an approximately 350,000-sq.-ft. retail complex along with a 120,000-sq.-ft. hotel, totaling 470,000 sq. ft. The retail complex will be comprised of approximately 100 designer outlets along with a variety of restaurants and cafes.
 

Dallas -- Venture Commercial announced that True Food Kitchen will open a 5,915-sq.-ft restaurant at The Plaza at Preston Center, a five-story mixed-use development under construction in Dallas.

True Food, a Fox Restaurant Concepts brand, is slated to open in 2013 in a ground-floor space of a building that is devoted to retail tenants.

SAN FRANCISCO — The single cup brewing trend as arrived at Williams-Sonoma in the form of the Starbucks’ deluxe Verismo System 585.

According to the company, the Verismo System 585 is the first at-home premium single cup machine that makes Starbucks-quality espresso beverages and brewed coffee with the touch of a button. The system is available in the deluxe 585 or base 580 model online and will be available in stores beginning Sept. 28.

Puyallup, Wash. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse will open a 9,200-sq.-ft. restaurant at South Hill Mall in Puyallup, Wash.

The new tenant is scheduled to open February 11, 2013, located between Red Robin and Olive Garden restaurants.

Westport, Conn. -- Charter Realty & Development said that it has arranged a 4,800-sq.-ft. lease for Panera Bread located in the Westport Plaza in Westport, Conn.  

The shopping center is anchored by Home Goods, Walgreens and Pet Supplies Plus. The deal was co-broked by RHYS commercial of Stamford.

In order to make room for Panera, Stride Rite and a nail salon will be relocated.
 

Houston -- Wulfe & Co., managing partner of Blvd Place, said that construction has started on Phase II of the mixed-use development located in The Uptown District of Houston.

Blvd Place will contain retail, office and residential components in an urban environment. This phase of the project is 60% pre-leased and will contain approximately 211,000 sq. ft. of upscale retail, restaurant and office space. The retail space will be anchored by a 48,500-sq.-ft. Whole Foods Market.