Hospitality

ATLANTA — Former Home Depot executive Michael Esposito has joined HoneyBaked as its new VP, human resources, a newly created position. Esposito previously served as director of associate relations for the Home Depot’s northern division.

Change — how to make it happen and effectively manage it — topped the agenda at Chain Store Age’s 10th annual Executive SPECS conference. Executives from some of the nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains and suppliers and service providers in store planning, construction and facilities management attended the event, which was held in November at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, Las Vegas.

Not even a hurricane named Sandy could erode the economic upsurge experienced by the northeastern United States over the last year. What this region rebuilt after the Great Recession has managed to stay strong even in the face of Sandy’s 80-mph winds, record flooding and the damage inflicted by its nor’easter sister that arrived just days after the fall 2012 hurricane.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- IMI and Trademark Property Group announced that its La Palmera mall in Corpus Christi, Texas, will be joined by a 6,5000-sq.-ft. Longhorn Steakhouse in 2013, along with Papaya, which opened 6,350-sq.-ft. store, and Flip Flop Shops. Pandora will open a 1,703-sq.-ft. store before the holidays.

La Palmera is a 1-million-sq.-ft. super-regional mall featuring Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, P.F. Chang’s and Coach.

Los Angeles -- Urban Partners and Harbor Urban announced that David Walker has joined the company as VP capital markets.

Walker will be responsible for actively procuring debt and equity capital for both entities. The firm is currently focused on urban infill assets in West Coast markets and, together with AREA Property Partners, recently acquired Seattle-based Harbor Properties and merged it with Urban Partner’s local office to form Harbor Urban.

Tommy Bahama has dropped anchor in Manhattan, opening a 13,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Fifth Avenue. It’s the island-inspired brand’s first store in the Big Apple, and also its biggest location to date, with 5,000 sq. ft. of retail, along with a 1,300-sq.-ft. bar on the first floor, and 6,700-sq.-ft. restaurant on the second floor.

Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- RMC Property Group said it has been awarded the exclusive leasing assignment for Meadow Pointe, a 17,280-sq.-ft. neighborhood retail center situated within a 1,800-acre residential community in the fast-growing Wesley Chapel market.   

Meadow Pointe is located adjacent to a CVS Pharmacy and has retail space opportunities ranging from 1,200 sq. ft. to 10,500 sq. ft.

Chino Hills, Calif. -- The Shoppes at Chino Hills is bringing Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches, joining recent tenants Crème de la Crème Bakery, Icy-Licious shaved ice, Sleep Number bed shop, and What Lola Wants women’s apparel at the Chino Hills, Calif., shopping center.

The 375,000-sq.-ft. community/lifestyle center also features a newly expanded A&M Home Décor.