Consumer Electronics

Madison, Wis. -- Lee & Associates’ Madison office said it has completed $2.8 million of leases at The Shoppes at Hartford; a 24,000-sq.-ft. retail center in Hartford, Wis. 

Located next to a new Wal-Mart Super Center, Lee Madison had the center 75% pre-leased before construction commenced and 100% leased before construction was finalized. Construction commenced April 1, and all tenants are expected to open before Christmas 2011.

An opening salvo has been fired in the Black Friday battle and this one emanated from South Florida where the massive Sawgrass Mills outlet mall announced it will stay open around the clock beginning at 10 p.m. on Thanskgiving day. The mall is home to a Super Target and about 350 other stores.

Indianapolis -- Kite Realty Group said that Dibella’s Subs will join Traders Point II shopping center, in Indianapolis, with a 3,200-sq.-ft. Indiana debut. The 447,507-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marsh Supermarket, Michael’s, Old Navy, Petsmart and AMC Theatre.  

At Cool Creek Commons in Carmel, Ind., Kite leased 5,554 sq. ft. to Boom Bozz Pizza & Tap House, which will open its first location in Indiana.

The revelation this week that Target chief marketing officer Michael Francis had jumped ship to become president at JCPenney was a surprising development that sucked some of the oxygen out of the retailer’s Minneapolis headquarters. Target is all about marketing and Francis was instrumental in shaping some of the most interesting customer communications the marketing world saw during the past decade. He was so highly thought of that earlier this year he was tapped to lead Target’s entry into Canada, arguably the company’s most significant longer term growth driver.

New York -- In a partnership with the U.K.-based retailer PC World, Google has opened its first-ever physical retail space, a pop-up shop in London.  It will be open for three months. 

The small,  285-sq.-ft. shop, called Chrome Zone, is devoted to Samsung’s ultra-portable Chrome OS-powered Chromebook computer and related accessories.  The space  has a high-tech look and is decked out in Google’s signature colors. 

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced the opening of three stores. 

The company will will open the doors to its stores in Suffolk, Va., Burlington, N.C., and  El Cajon, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 5

As part of our in-depth coverage of mixed-use developments – see the October 2011 issue of Chain Store Age – we talked with Rob Wetherald, VP development for Peoria, Ill.-based Cullinan Properties, Ltd., owner and developer of the Streets of St. Charles mixed-use project in metro St. Louis, about how the format draws, and supports, retail.

How important are design and amenities to today’s mixed-use projects, especially with regard to the retail component?

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- As part of the $200-million redevelopment of Cherry Hill Mall, in Cherry Hill, N.J., Zumiez has added a 2,444-sq.-ft. store near the Grand Court of the mall.

The Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) property also added shoe retailer Traffic with a 1,500-sq.-ft. store in the J.C. Penney wing, and natural food retailer Pure Health Bar is slated to open in November.