Hospitality

New York -- Caribou Coffee will close some 80 stores nationwide and turn 88 other locations into Peet's over the next 12 to 18 months, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Caribou, which is based in Minneapolis, went private this year in a $340 million deal with German investment firm Joh. A. Benckiser Group (JAB), which also owns Peet’s.  

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- JDA Software Group announced that Bob Evans Farms will deploy a JDA workforce management solution (formerly RedPrairie WFM) in approximately 565 Bob Evans restaurants.

Bob Evans selected JDA to help improve forecasting and scheduling of labor, drive proper placement of staff throughout the course of the day and provide exceptional service to every customer.

Laredo, Texas -- Brentwood, Tenn.-based GBT Realty said Wednesday it has completed construction of a new shopping center that is home to four new retailers. The fully occupied McPherson Place, in Laredo, Texas, is tenanted by James Avery, Orange Leaf, Starbucks Coffee and AT&T. All four stores are open for business.

“The quality of this location allowed us to completely fill the center with an outstanding list of retailers,” said Fraser Schaufele, VP leasing at GBT.

Tucson, Ariz. -- Commercial Retail Advisors said Tuesday that Dominick's Real Italian is opening a restaurant at Cortaro Plaza, located in northwest Tucson.

The 1,600-sq.-ft. Italian pizza and pasta place is slated to open June 1.
 

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group said Wednesday it has named Jannie DelRio as a leasing executive, specializing in tenant representation.

DelRio previously worked with a Tampa-based brokerage firm representing tenants such as Great Clips for Hair, Smoothie King, It’s a Grind Coffee House, Dunkin Brands, Quizno’s, Stride Ride and Papa John’s Pizza.

At RMC, DelRio's tenant representation assignments in Southwest Florida include Bull Chicks, a Texas-based fast casual concept, and Firehouse Subs.

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- BJ's Restaurants said Wednesday it has opened a new restaurant in Puyallup, Wash.

The 8,500-sq.-ft. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse opened Monday  at South Hill Mall, a 1 million-sq.-ft. Cafaro Co. property.

"We are very excited to open our first restaurant of fiscal 2013 in Puyallup, a suburb of the Seattle market," said Greg Trojan, BJ’s president and CEO.

Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- Joint-venture partners Kroger Real Estate and Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial announced Wednesday the launch of construction on the Shelter Cove Towne Centre, a 42-acre mixed-use development on Hilton Head Island, featuring the debut of Kroger Marketplace on the Island.

New York -- Store development and facilities professionals from some of the nation’s biggest retail and restaurant chains gathered in Dallas, Texas, to attend Chain Store Age’s 49th annual SPECS Conference, March 17-20, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.