Hospitality

Parker, Colo. -- Westwood Financial Corp. said it has acquired the Stroh Ranch Retail Center, a 6,336-sq.-ft. property in Parker, Colo., outside Denver. Westwood Financial bought the distressed asset in a short sale and said it is currently eyeing similar opportunities in this sector.

The two-unit, 1999-built Stroh Ranch Retail Center currently counts Pizza Hut as its only tenant after Blockbuster vacated last year, leaving it 21% leased.
 

Dallas -- The Commercial Retail Division of The Weitzman Group said that Just Fitness 4 U has leased 18,900 sq. ft. of anchor space in Spring Creek Village for the chain’s sixth Dallas-Fort Worth location.

Just Fitness 4 U, which currently operates locations in Dallas, Carrollton, Mesquite, Plano and Hurst, also operates in several national markets, including Atlanta and Salt Lake City. The Weitzman Group is representing the fitness chain on its Dallas-Ft. Worth expansion.

Short Hills, N.J. -- The Mall at Short Hills, in Short Hills, N.J., announced that The Cheesecake Factory, Reed Krakoff and Swarovski will open this summer, and Ann Taylor will debut a new concept store.

Opening in July is The Cheesecake Factory, and women’s fashion retailer Reed Krakoff will open in early August, the boutique’s first in New Jersey and fourth in the world. Swarovski will open a new boutique under its Crystal Forest retail design concept, its first in New Jersey.

Huey Lewis and the News are scheduled to perform a free concert in Fayetteville, Ark. on Sept. 9, in connection with the women’s professional golf tournament known as the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. The Grammy Award winning entertainer will be performing at the M&M’s/Extra Dickson Street Concert. The 8 p.m. concert will be held in the Walton Arts Center parking lot located at 495 W. Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

By Glenn Brill, glenn.brill@fticonsulting.com

The recent announcement that Ron Johnson of Apple will become J. C. Penny’s new chief executive is a clear indication of the need for many retailers to revitalize the shopping experience. It is also a clarion call and symbolic of the challenge to mall owners, developers, and investors to create and/or revitalize shopping environments that can effectively complement and promote a retailer’s brand.

WASHINGTON — Walmart announced that, through its charitable arm the Walmart Foundation, it has launched a $25 million giving campaign aimed at filling the gaps created when schools close for the summer. Funding to more than 350 local nonprofit organizations will help expand nutrition, learning and employment services for elementary, middle and high school students throughout the 2011 summer months, the company reported.

Walmart said it would address the achievement gap between higher- and lower-income youth by focusing on three key areas:

Dallas -- Web-based hiring assessment provider PeopleAnswers said Tuesday that The Cheesecake Factory will use the PeopleAnswers HR solution in its 164 restaurants to pre-screen and select hourly staff.

The objective is to fill each position with individuals who will help maintain The Cheesecake Factory’s quality brand.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that its "Macy's Chefs A-Go-Go" food truck tour will kick off in Miami on June 28. The first-ever tour will feature a chef from Macy's Culinary Council at each stop. MCC chefs include Cat Cora, Todd English and Marcus Samuelsson.