Apparel

Plano, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased retail space in Plano, Texas, at Preston Park Village to Toni & Guy.

The hair, skin and nail salon will open a 1,690-sq.-ft. location in January 2011.

The 239,333-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a 53,118-sq.-ft. Tom Thumb alongside national retailers Panera Bread, Williams Sonoma, Ann Taylor and The UPS Store.

Seattle -- Retail design firm Callison said Tuesday it has added Shawn Rush as associate principal in the company’s Seattle office.

Rush, a LEED AP, will focus on business development in the Global Retail studio, which includes national accounts and workplace interiors. Her role also consists of identifying developing trends and targeting market opportunities for Callison’s domestic offices.

Atlanta -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said Tuesday it has leased more than 23,500 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space for seven new merchant locations in the Atlanta metro market.

According to Andre Koleszar, Regency Centers’ VP and regional officer, Atlanta-area retail business is getting stronger. “We’ve seen leasing activity recovering and retailers are attracted to shopping centers in prime locations with a merchandising mix that attracts upscale customers, ” he said.

Washington – After a solid start to the holiday season, the National Retail Federation announced that it is revising its holiday forecast to 3.3%, up from 2.3%. The upward revision is due to improvement in a variety of economic indicators including stock market gains, recent income growth, savings built up during the recession - all giving consumers the capacity to spend.  

Addison, Texas -- Coyote Management, LP and Garrison Investment Group, through their affiliates, announced they acquired Decatur Mall, in Decatur, Ala., and Lakeshore Mall, in Gainesville, Ga., in September and have made enhancements and changes to the properties.

A new corporate ad campaign for both malls was launched Nov. 1, and each mall has added a Customer Service Center, a new MasterCard gift-card program, children’s stroller program, new website and social media.

Making your NRF Show plans? Don’t forget to allow yourself time to check out the Big Apple’s exciting retail scene. Here’ s a quick hit list of the city’s newest retail stars:

New York City -- Winick Realty Group announced that Smart Fashion, a national importer and exporter of women’s apparel, has leased its first retail location at 149B West 36th Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue in Manhattan’s Garment District.

Smart Fashion already operates a wholesale showroom nearby at 1407 Broadway.

The 2,000-sq.-ft. store will focus on trendy junior sportswear.

The willingness of discount-store shoppers to pay a premium for products with a celebrity connection will be put to the test next week when the new line of William Rast apparel hits Target stores. The line includes premium denim, leather and outerwear items with prices beginning at $16.99 and extending all the way to the department store territory of $199.99. The limited duration merchandising initiative is due to hit stores on Dec.19 and runs through Jan. 22.