Convenience Stores

Houston — Exceptional job growth, population gains and improved retail fundamentals have significantly elevated the sales prices for shopping centers in Texas over the last year, according to Deal Sikes & Associates, a Houston-based real estate valuation and counseling firm.

Some retail properties have increased in value more than 20 percent in 2013, compared to last year, added Matthew Deal, principal at Deal Sikes & Associates.

New York — Sarah’s Kitchen has signed a lease for a 9,150-sq.-ft. space at 270 Madison Ave., between East 39th and East 40th Streets in Midtown Manhattan. Expected to open in third quarter 2014, the eatery will occupy approximately 6,350 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 2,800 sq. ft. in a mezzanine.

PD Properties represented Sarah’s Kitchen, which is part of the same restaurant group that operates Delmonico’s Gourmet Food Market. Winick Realty Group represented the landlord, ABS Partners in the transaction.

Oakville, Ontario – Customers at participating Tim Horton’s stores throughout Canada and the U.S. using BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be able to register a Tim Card on the TimmyMe mobile app and use NFC tap-to-pay technology to complete their order. Future development plans will also see this platform expanded to Android 4.4 devices.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts has launched its “HoliDDay Fashions” contest, inviting people to post photos of themselves in their holiday clothing and costumes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Beginning Dec. 12 and continuing through Dec. 18, customers can submit their photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the special hashtag #HoliDDayFashions.

On Dec. 20, Dunkin' Donuts will announce a total of five winners to receive a prize pack. No purchase is required.

Bridgeview, Ill. -- Rose Paving Company, a provider of complete parking lot management solutions to commercial and industrial properties nationwide, announced it  raised $7,000 during its year-long, multi-event fundraising campaign benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The donation, presented to St. Jude in December, will help support the lifesaving mission of one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers.

Safeway has named Brian Baer as president of the company's Eastern Division.

"Brian's proven management skills and experience will serve our customer base well in the Eastern Division," stated Kelly Griffith, Safeway EVP retail operations.

Baer joined Safeway in 2001 as VP Finance for the company's Phoenix division. In 2004, he became group VP of finance planning and analysis at the Safeway's corporate headquarters. He joined the Dominick's division as CFO in 2008, and was promoted to president of that division in 2011.

Increased traffic at Costco helped fueled sales in the first quarter of 2014.

Seattle -- REI will open a store in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the spring of 2014.

The 30,000-sq.-ft. store will house a bike shop, and ski and snowboard shop offering assembly and repair services, and host free in-store classes.

"Whether hiking, skiing or practicing yoga, Alaskans are some of the most active people in the country," said Kevin Golic, REI retail director for the Washington and Alaska district.

REI has a long history in Alaska, dating back to its store in Anchorage, opened in 1979.

Ankeny, Iowa – Casey’s General Stores’ net income rose more than 24% during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, to $41.3 million from $32.8 million. The company also boosted revenue 5% to $2.01 billion from $1.91 billion.

The American Wholesale Marketers Association announced that sociologist and women's work expert Marianne Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the AWMA Women's Leadership Initiative Kickoff Breakfast, to be held on Feb. 27 at the 2014 AWMA Marketplace and Solutions Expo in Las Vegas.