Convenience Stores

East Peoria, Illinois — McDonald’s Restaurants of Peoria/Bloomington will join the East Peoria Levee District with the opening of a new restaurant in September.

 Local owner-operator Scott Bandy will be overseeing the construction of the restaurant, with plans to include a modern exterior and dual drive-thru lanes. Interior features include a dual-point ordering system with new split counter function, free Wi-Fi, and digital menu boards.

Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania — Wolfson Group will launch a redevelopment of Hilltown Crossings, a community shopping center with a gross leasable area of 354,458 sq. ft., located on Route 309 at Orvilla Road in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.

Pleasanton, Calif. - Safeway has released its sixth annual sustainability report, informed by the Global Reporting Initiative G3 Guidelines. The online report, titled "Heart of Safeway," includes 2013 performance highlights such as hiring 1,833 military veterans and scoring 100% in the Human Rights Campaign Buyer's Guide and Corporate Equality Index

Other highlights include:

New York -- Uncertainty at the West Coast ports has caused a rush of activity, according to a monthly tracking service.

Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to total 1.5 million containers this month, says the Global Port Tracker from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. That’s the highest monthly volume in at least five years and follows a trend of unusually high import levels that began this spring as labor strife pushed retailers to import merchandise ahead of any potential problems.

Hermosa Beach, California — Regency Centers announced that Torrance Memorial and Hermosa Beach Fish Shop will open at Plaza Hermosa. Torrance Memorial’s new facility is slated to open this fall and will specialize in primary care and pediatrics. 

New York -- Boxman Studios, a leader in shipping container modification, have created a one-of-a-kind dining and retail venue from shipping containers to anchor Assembly Row, a new mixed-use development in Somerville, Massachusetts, which is just outside of Boston.   

Four modified 20-ft. shipping containers make up SombBlox, an homage to Somerville’s historically industrial past. The four containers create three distinct spaces that are all ADA accessible and include electrical and lighting.

Barnegat, N.J. — Two long-term lease agreements totaling 6,600 sq. ft. bring retail occupancy to 100% at Bayshore Plaza in Barnegat, New Jersey, according to the 59,000-sq.-ft. property’s leasing and managing firm Levin Management. 

The new tenants include casual Italian restaurant Luigi’s Ristorante and Brick Oven Pizza (2,400 sq. ft.) and non-profit green initiative Greensleeves Boutique (4,200 sq. ft.).

Sacramento, California — West Coast shopping center owner/operator Pacific Castle has acquired four Sacramento-area properties for approximately $40 million, signaling an ongoing trend to add to the company’s diversified portfolio.