Restaurant

Macon, Ga. -- Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Storey Gibson Cos. announced that Smok’n Pig BBQ will open a new restaurant at Macon Mall, located in Macon, Ga.

Macon Mall is preparing to launch a major redevelopment and renovation that will add, expand and relocate the tenant mix. The new restaurant will complete construction this fall and employ up to 150 people.
 

Like many of you, I just got back from RECon, and I’m still processing what I saw and heard. One thing that was interesting to me was the fact that it seemed like burger concepts were on everybody’s site plans, from In-N-Out Burger to Smashburger and Five Guys. If you like a good burger -- and, who doesn’t -- this is great news. If you are a developer or landlord though, I think you should proceed with some caution.

Hartford, Conn. -- FM Facility Maintenance, a leading provider of facility management for clients with multisite restaurant and retail locations,  announced that it has acquired the assets and certain liabilities of US Signs. With this acquisition, FM Facility Maintenance strengthens its position as a service provider of facility maintenance services to customers with a national footprint.

As part of our ongoing coverage of RECon, the annual retail real estate convention conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and held May 22-25 in Las Vegas, Chain Store Age talked with Andy Graiser, co-president of DJM Realty, a Gordon Brothers Group company, based in Melville, N.Y., about his key takeaways from RECon 2011.

Now that RECon 2011 has drawn to a close and we are all settling back into our daily work routines, what are your key takeaways from this year’s show?

St. Paul, Minn. -- Paster Enterprises announced Wednesday that six new tenants have been secured at the company’s projects throughout the Twin Cities area. 

New tenants include Massage Elements, V4U, Home Choice, Broadway Pizza, National Karate and United Family Medicine.

New York City -- Fast-casual restaurant operator Au Bon Pain is launching a major remodeling program that will transform all of its 318 cafes. The Boston-based chain also is testing iPads as an order-taking device in select stores.

Under this initiative, the company has already remodeled a majority of its cafes in the greater New York City area, one of the company's largest markets.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle said Tuesday it has been named the new leasing and/or property manager for five retail properties in Arkansas, North Carolina, New York and Ohio.

The portfolio, owned by a variety of institutional investors, includes open-air shopping centers and a single-tenant property in Manhattan.

The mixed-use project MarketStreet Lynnfield continues to forge ahead, as co-developers WS Development and National Development announced on June 6 that Whole Foods Market, Kings and Legal C Bar have signed leases to join the property.

Whole Foods will open a 45,000-sq.-ft. store at MarketStreet Lynnfield, which is located on Route 128/I-95 spanning Exits 42 and 43 in Lynnfield, Mass.