Restaurant

New York City -- McDonald’s Corp. plans to build the largest restaurant in its system as part of its role as official restaurant of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The chain has been an Olympics sponsor since 1976.

Speaking in a global webcast on July 20, McDonald's UK CEO Jill McDonald said the planned restaurant will span 32,290 sq.-ft. over two levels, and will have a kitchen four times standard size to accommodate the crowds. The chain says it expects to serve 1.75 million meals during the games, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12, 2012.

Houston -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased 8,600 sq. ft. of retail space in Houston to four new tenants.

In The Woodlands, Zoës Kitchen leased 3,018 sq. ft. at Sterling Ridge Village Center, bringing the center to 100% occupancy.  The restaurant is slated to open in December. Optometry office Woodland’s Eye Center leased 2,019 sq. ft. for an October opening at Indian Springs Center, bringing the center to full occupancy.

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space in Austin, Texas, to six new tenants.

Pure Barre opened a 1,750-sq.-ft. studio at North Hills Town Center, bringing the center to 100% occupancy.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers’ Pleasant Hill (Calif.) Shopping Center has more going for it than a vibrant market and a strong anchor lineup. Ross Dress for Less has debuted in the 234,000-sq.-ft. center with its 1,000th store location.

Ross’s new 30,000-sq.-ft. store opened on July 16, bringing Pleasant Hill to 99% occupancy. Other tenants include Target, Toys “R” Us and Barnes & Noble Booksellers alongside national retailers including Men’s Wearhouse, Payless ShoeSource, GameStop, Metro PCS and soon-to-open In-N-Out Burger.

Ashburn, Va. — Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said Mathnasium and Zinga Frozen Yogurt have leased space at Ashburn Farm Market Center, located in Ashburn, Va.

Mathnasium has leased 1,529 sq. ft. and Zinga has leased 2,264 sq. ft. Both businesses are slated to open in September, bringing the center to 100% leased.

The 91,900-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 49,000-sq.-ft. Giant, alongside national retailers, such as Starbucks, Subway, Domino’s Pizza and Supercuts.

Denton, Md. -- Walmart will break ground on a new supercenter in Denton, Maryland, the week of September 19. The 152,888-sq.-ft.  store will also feature a Subway.

Walmart currently operates 35 stores and 12 Sam's Clubs in the state of Maryland.

Washington, D.C. — Grosenor Americas announced that tapas restaurant Boqueria will open a 5,331-sq.-ft. restaurant in a former Penang Malaysian Cuisine space in Washington, D.C.

Boqueria, which operates two New York City locations, is slated to open fourth quarter 2011.

Grosvenor Americas also announced that Irish Whiskey will open a 3,815-sq.-ft. bar in the adjacent former Porters Dining Saloon space.

Milford, Conn. — The Subway restaurant chain announced that a franchisee in Toledo, Ohio, has opened the brand's 8,000th non-traditional location— in a two million-sq.-ft. automobile assembly facility that produces Jeep and Chrysler vehicles.