Hospitality

Mansfield, Conn. -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said that ground was broken on Storrs Center, a new mixed-use town center to be located adjacent to the University of Connecticut in Mansfield.

At completion, the project will include approximately 200,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 700 residential units, and significant open space.

Philadelphia -- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced that J.C. Penney, Nordstrom Rack, Bravo Cucina Italiana and Forever 21 will join The Cheesecake Factory in 190,000 sq. ft. of anchor space formerly occupied by Strawbridge’s at Willow Grove Park in suburban Philadelphia.

The reconfiguration of the former Strawbridge’s store sets the stage for continuing the fashion-oriented merchandising strategy that differentiates the mall and appeals to a wide range of shopping and dining tastes.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The reviews are coming in, and Domino’s Pizza is streaming them atop a billboard in one of the country’s busiest intersections: Manhattan’s Times Square.

Charleston, S.C. -- PeopleMatter, a talent management solution provider for the service industry, said that Apple Sauce, LLC, a major franchisee in the Applebee’s system, has selected the the PeopleMatter Platform for talent management to find, develop and manage talent. The solution will be used for more than 78 Applebee’s locations in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. reported Thursday that it scored record results in the quarter ended July 3, prompting the retailer to accelerate its 2012 new store opening targets to 800 net new stores globally.

Starbucks grew profits 34% in the third quarter, to $279 million from $208 million in the year-ago period. Sales rose 12% to $2.9 billion from $2.6 billion, topping Wall Street estimates.

Same-store sales globally surged 8%, buoyed by a 6% increase in traffic and a 2% increase in average ticket.

San Mateo, Calif. -- Hillsdale Shopping Center, located in San Mateo, Calif., is currently undergoing an extensive 80,000-sq.-ft. renovation to an area previously occupied by Mervyn’s.

The transformation will feature San Mateo County’s first Cheesecake Factory, a two-story Forever 21, and H&M as anchors of the center’s south end.

New Lenox, Ill. -- Urban Retail Properties, LLC, Center Creek Development, LLC and Mansur & Co. announced Wednesday a joint venture to build, lease and manage Spring Creek Outlets of Chicago, located in New Lenox, Ill.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial Real Estate announced the completion of several transactions that will bring new Carl’s Jr. restaurants to Garland, Balch Springs, Lufkin, and Beaumont, Texas, by the end of the year.

With the addition of these four locations owned and operated by RWJP Star Enterprises, the total number of Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Texas will be 48.