Department Store

The Associated Press reported last week that First Lady Michelle Obama was sighted shopping incognito at a D.C. area Target store wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. Secret Service agents arrived about a half-hour before Mrs. Obama, who walked in through the main entrance with an assistant and spent 30 to 40 minutes shopping and pushing her own cart, according to AP.

Berlin, N.J. — The 134-store arts and crafts chain A.C. Moore said Tuesday it has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of arts and crafts distributor Sbar’s Inc. for about $40.8 million.

Last January, the company said it had formed a committee to review strategic alternatives, including a potential sale.

Houston -- Baker Katz, X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm in Houston, said it has completed the sale of one of Houston’s modern landmark properties formerly occupied by a men’s fine clothing retailer.  

The 14,000-sq.-ft. building was sold to Braun Enterprises for an undisclosed amount. It had been occupied for more than 61 years by Harolds, one of the area’s most well known men’s fine clothing retailers until the retailer closed its doors in August. 

Austin, Texas -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it closed on the acquisition of Tech Ridge Center, an 187,529-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping located in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 26.  

Built in 2001, Tech Ridge Center is anchored by an 84,352-sq.-ft. H-E-B alongside national retailers including Office Depot, Petco, Subway and Massage Envy.  The center is 93% occupied.

Dublin, Calif. - Ross Dress for Less will open four new locations in the greater Chicago area on March 8, 2014. These openings bring the total number of Chicago area stores to 35 for the retailer.  

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.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. — Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it will hire 40,000 seasonal workers for the 2011 holiday shopping period, about 5% more than in 2010.

The plan equates to about 35 additional associates per store at its 1,127 stores, each working about 20 hours per week.

In addition, Kohl's said it plans to hire 2,500 seasonal workers at DCs and 500 seasonal and full-time credit operations workers.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Columbia, S.C.-based Edens & Avant said it has purchased Union Planters Plaza, a 155,000-sq.-ft., Whole Foods-anchored retail center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

Located in one of Broward County’s most active regional corridors, Union Planters Plaza was originally built in 1989 and expanded in 2000 and sits on a total of 14.6 acres. Union Planters Plaza is the 25th retail center owned by Edens & Avant in the Florida market, including 12 centers in South Florida.