Retail

Atlanta -- Construction of a new Brixx Wood Fired Pizza is underway at The Avenue East Cobb in Marietta, Ga., just north of Atlanta. Cousins Properties manages the development.

Approximately 3,600 sq. ft., the new Brixx will seat about 140 inside and 45 outside on a patio. Franchisees Nick and Raj Vadgama will open the new restaurant, the first Brixx in Georgia, in the fall.

Brixx has also announced plans for a second franchised Georgia location in the Avenue Peachtree City, another Cousins property.

Store level execution, a topic near but not always so dear to the hearts of Walmart suppliers, will be the focus of a Doing Business in Bentonville event scheduled for next Wednesday.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle has announced that its retail group, in an exclusive deal, will lease and manage Shenandoah Plaza in Newnan, Ga. Anchoring the 146,121-sq.-ft. property are Big Lots, Rent-A-Center and Goodwill.

The property is currently 100% occupied. John Bemis, southeast retail market lead, and Janine Christian, senior VP, will direct JLL’s team on the assignment.

Leominster, Mass. -- Vintage Real Estate has purchased The Mall at Whitney Field, a 700,000-sq.-ft. regional shopping center in Leominster, Mass., about 35 miles west of Boston. Anchors include Macy’s, Sears, J.C. Penney, Market Basket, Toys “R” Us and Old Navy.

Concurrent with the acquisition, Burlington Coat Factor signed a 10-year lease for a 66,000-sq.-ft. space formerly occupied by Circuit City.

NEW YORK — Ann Inc. reported total net sales for the quarter of $575 million, a 2.5% increase from $560 million in the first quarter ended May 4.

By brand, net sales across all channels of the Ann Taylor brand totaled $219 million for the quarter, a nearly 4% increase from $212 million in the first quarter of 2012. At the Loft brand, net sales across all channels were $355 million for the quarter, a 2% increase $348 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Dallas -- CBRE’s Private Capital Group in Dallas has arranged the sale of Hebron Heights Shopping Center in Carrollton, Texas, for an undisclosed amount. The 59,356-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center occupies a 10-plus acre site at the corner of Hebron Parkway and Old Denton Road in northwest Dallas.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle Retail Group said that vacancy rates should fall far enough to enable some landlords in every U.S. market to demand slightly higher rents — at some point over the next six months.

For much of the past decade the persistent problem Walmart had to address with shareholders at its annual meeting was a long dormant share price. That’s not the case this year, but there are plenty of other issues to concern shareholders.