Apparel

J.C. Penney Co. is expanding its kids and baby line-up with the launch of exclusive new brands, including dedicated in-store environments for Disney and giggleBABY.

Penney’s Disney shop concept ranges in size from 800 sq. ft. to 1,100 sq. ft. The branded department features toys, collectibles and children's apparel designed exclusively for Penney and showcasing various Disney characters.

Fort Worth, Texas — Epiphany Boutique will open a 1,463-sq.-ft. store at West 7th, a mixed-use development at the intersection of West Seventh Street and University Drive in Fort Worth, according to Cypress Equities, the developers of West 7th.

The store is slated to open in early October. Centennial Retail Services represented the landlord. Epiphany Boutique represented itself.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets group has closed the sale of Montgomery Plaza on behalf of Weingarten Realty Investors. American National Insurance Company purchased the 304,867-sq.-ft. shopping center, located in Conroe, Texas.

Montgomery Plaza retailers include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Big Lots, Conn’s Appliances, 99 Cents Only and Petco. In addition to the inline space, there are two multi-tenant pads and two single-tenant pads.

Denton, Texas — Golden Triangle Mall has announced the addition of Charlotte Russe to a list of national and regional tenants that have recently committed to or renewed leases at the renovated mall. The specialty fashion retailer will occupy 4,475 sq. ft. and will open before the holiday shopping season.

In addition to Charlotte Russe, the list of new retailers includes Buckle, Body Central, Pro Image Sports and food court eateries Italia Express, Tobu Oriental Eatery and Smoothie Paradise.

Los Angeles — Mack Urban Real Estate Group and AECOM Capital have acquired six acres in the Los Angeles central business district. The $80 million transaction is the largest land acquisition in the CBD since before the recession. The seller was EVOQ Properties.

The acquisition is part of a Mack Urban and AECOM plan to build a portfolio of class A, institutional quality multifamily developments in West Coast gateway cities.

Denton, Texas — Cencor Realty Services has named Carrie Carter director of marketing for Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas. Carter’s new responsibilities include creating and executing the mall’s marketing, public relations, advertising and social media programs. She will also support the mall’s current renovation through the development of marketing, collateral and presentation materials.

Dallas – Neiman-Marcus Group Inc. and Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) are reportedly seeking loans to support merger and acquisition activity.

According to Bloomberg, Neiman-Marcus is trying to secure $3.75 billion in loans to support its planned buyout by Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. That figure reportedly includes a $2.95 billion term loan and an $800 million asset-backed loan.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Company, Inc. has reportedly named Jan Hodges, a senior marketing executive who has been with the retailer for 25 years, to the position of senior VP and general manager of home goods. According to Reuters, Penney CEO Myron Ullman sent out an employee memo on Oct. 3 informing workers that Hodges would assume the new position on Nov. 1.

Columbus, Ohio – Lane Bryant officially reopens its store at the West Towne mall in Madison, Wis. on Friday, Oct. 4 with a new look. On the same day Lane Bryant opens a new store in Houston.

The store will celebrate its grand opening at both stores from Oct. 4 through Oct. 6. Customers who shop at those location during the weekend will be able to enter for a chance to win one of 150 $25 Lane Bryant gift cards.

Bohemia, N.Y. -- FrontStreet Facility Solutions announced that Brian French will join the executive leadership team as VP of operations. French is the former president of Cairn Development.