Hospitality

Minneapolis -- Carlson Restaurants, parent of T.G.I. Friday’s, announced at a conference in Dallas last week that it plans to double the number of units globally under a program it is calling Ambition 2015.

"With the strength of our Friday's brand, our management team and our franchise partners, we are uniquely positioned to dramatically increase the footprint of our business," said Nick Shepherd, president and CEO of Carlson Restaurants.

Neptune Beach, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has started construction on an additional 9,100-sq.-ft. building at Seminole Shoppes, located in Neptune Beach, Fla., for six new side shops.

Leases have already been signed with Hurricane Grill & Wings for 2,940 sq. ft. and TCBY for 1,400 sq. ft. in the new building, slated for completion in late spring.

Chino Hills, Calif. -- The Shoppes at Chino Hills announced that it is adding Dillon’s Irish Pub & Grill, along with Dripp coffee boutique and ice shop, to its tenant lineup.

The new restaurants join P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Chipotle Mexican Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Yard House and Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill at the shopping center.

New York City -- Optimism was in the air at Chain Store Age’s 47th annual SPECS conference, in Grapevine, Texas. Spirits were up, and so was attendance, dramatically so, among both the show’s attendees and exhibitors.

New York City -- TF Cornerstone said it recently signed a 15-year, 2,800-sq.-ft. lease with Potbelly Sandwich Shop at 2 Gold Street, a 650 unit luxury residential building.

The location is the chain’s first in New York. Potbelly joins existing tenants Pret-A-Manger, Goodburger and Hot Clay Oven.

Tilden, Pa. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate announced Wednesday that Tilden Ridge, a 400,000-sq.-ft. regional shopping center located in Hamburg, Pa., and anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement, had its grand opening on March 15.

The shopping center, owned by West Conshohocken, Pa.-based Ironwood Property Group, is 98% pre-leased and includes, besides Walmart and Lowe’s, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Logan’s Roadhouse, GameStop, Pet Supplies Plus, Sleepy’s and Schuylkill Valley Sports.
 

New York City -- Sporting goods retailer Scheels will open a 220,000-sq.-ft. store in Sandy, Ohio. The store, which will be located at a new development to be called One Fourteen, will feature a 65-ft.-tall Ferris wheel, a 16,000-gallon salt-water aquarium, and “sports simulators” for golf, soccer, hockey, baseball, football and basketball.

Scheels operates 23 stores in eight states. The new Ohio location is expected to open in the fall of 2012.

SEATTLE -- Terry Pillow, CEO of the Tommy Bahama Group, has announced the appointment of Rob Goldberg as SVP marketing. Goldberg, who joined Tommy Bahama in 2010 as SVP restaurants, will continue to oversee the restaurant operations in addition to his new duties. Goldberg will continue to be based at the company's Seattle headquarters. The appointment is effective immediately.