Hospitality

Miami — El Balcon de las Americas is bringing its Colombian food menu to Westfork Plaza in Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Terranova Corp. represented the shopping center in the transaction. The 2,335-sq.-ft. location at Westfork Plaza is the young chain’s fifth location in South Florida.

Houston — Transwestern’s Houston office has announced that it will take on leasing responsibilities for a 50,000-sq.-ft, mixed-use development in Houston’s museum district. The development will contain a mix of high-end retail, medical and office space.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. — Smashburger plans to open a 2,700-sq.-ft. eatery at Plymouth Meeting Mall this fall. As of now, Smashburger has 187 corporate and franchised restaurants across the country.

Anchored by Macy’s, Boscov’s and Whole Foods Market and Café, the mall features more than 100 specialty retailers and a long list of destination restaurants like Benihana, Bertucci’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill and others.

Bethesda, Md. — Max Brenner has opened a Chocolate Bar in Bethesda, Md., along Bethesda Row. It is the first location for the chocolate retailer in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The interior of the shop features vats of swirling chocolate and chocolate pipes running the length of the ceiling.
 

New York — Kite Realty Group has leased a 4,053-sq.-ft. space to Core Mind and Body at Rangeline Crossing in Carmel, Ind.

Kite represented the landlord KRG Centre, and the tenant represented itself.

Purchase, N.Y. — Kicks USA has leased a 4,600-sq.-ft. store at CooperTowne Center in Somerdale, N.J., said National Realty & Development Corp.

The urban, family apparel and athletic footwear retailer will Join anchors Wal-Mart Supercenter, Cinemark Theatres and LA Fitness.

Alameda, Calif. — Trabocco, a new, independent chef-owned restaurant, will open this fall at Alameda South Shore Center, according to Jamestown, the center’s owner.

Founded by Chef Giuseppe Naccarelli, a native of Palombaro, Italy, and his wife, Christine, the 4,700-sq.-ft. restaurant will occupy a prominent position in Center Court, the 594,000-sq.-ft. center’s main plaza.

Seattle -- Starbucks announced it has tapped Google to provide the next generation of its WiFi offering to its customers nationwide. Over the next 18 months, Starbucks will convert more than 7,000 U.S. stores to Google’s upgraded store network and WiFi experience.

AT&T, which currently provides Starbucks’ wireless access, will be replaced by the new initiative. Google will increase speeds and enable users to surf the web up to 10-times faster, according to Starbucks.