Convenience Stores

NEW YORK — Kohl’s, Nordstrom and Target  ranked first in their categories in a new survey by Harris Interactive. The 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study surveyed Americans about brands across several retail segments, revealing which brands prompted them to open their hearts—and consequently—their pocketbooks.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Outlet stores will offer all past and present, uniformed service members 10% off anything in store on Armed Forces Day, May 19. All Active Duty, Reservist, National Guard, retirees and dependents from the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), Uniformed Law Enforcement and Fire/Rescue Personnel, are encouraged to visit one of the 120 Sears Outlet stores throughout the United States to redeem this exclusive offer.

As part of Chain Store Age’s lead-up coverage to RECon 2012, to be held May 20-23 in Las Vegas, we talked with customer analytics firm Buxton’s Charles Wetzel about what his expectations are for the big real estate show. Visit Buxton’s booth 701 in the North Hall Marketplace area of RECon.

Las Vegas -- Irvine, Calif.-based Passco Cos., said it has negotiated a $25.8 million loan to refinance Silver City Plaza, a 41,583-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center in Las Vegas.

The new loan was arranged with Cantor Commercial Real Estate, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, and was uniquely structured to accommodate a challenged market.

New York -- Manhattan-based ATCO Properties & Management said it has acquired a Whole Foods retail location in Mill Valley, Calif., for $17.3 million.

Situated within the Alto Shopping Center on Mill Valley’s North side, the 23,200-sq.-ft. store opened a year ago and has established itself as one of the chain’s best performers, according to ATCO senior VP Damon Hemmerdinger.

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- DJM Capital Partners said that a new 154,000-sq.-ft. Costco has opened at Bella Terra, an open-air center in Huntington Beach, Calif. Costco opened in a building vacated by Mervyn’s.

Costco at Bella Terra is a full-format store offering Gas Station, Fresh Bakery, Fresh Meat, Fresh Produce, Fresh Deli with Rotisserie Chicken, Optical Department, 1-Hour Photo, Pharmacy, Tire Center, Hearing Aid Center, Fine Wine & Liquor and Food Court.

Garden City, N.Y. -- Sabre Real Estate Group said it has arranged five retail leases on Long Island totaling almost 20,000 sq. ft.

In Commack, N.Y., women’s apparel retailer Bolton’s leased 2,500 sq. ft. in the Mayfair Shopping Center for a store that is expected to open in June. Levin Management Corp., of Plainfield, N.J., owns the shopping center.

Mamaroneck, N.Y. -- Charter Realty & Development said that it has arranged a 2,400-sq.-ft. lease for Smashburger in Mamaroneck, N.Y., within walking distance of the Metro-North train station.

Peter Levine of Charter Realty & Development represents Smashburger in Westchester, Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford Counties.