Department Store

Miami -- Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that The Sports Authority, HomeGoods and a selection of retail shops and restaurants are opening and coming soon to The Shops at Midtown Miami, a 645,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use retail, dining and residential center.

The Sports Authority plans to open a 34,544-sq.-ft. store in 2011. HomeGoods opened a 25,351-sq.-ft. location in late fall 2010.

New York City -- Best Buy has become the latest retailer to offer free shipping for select online orders for the holidays.

The chain said the offer, which is good through Dec. 21, is valid on hundreds of thousands of items, including all CD’s, Blu-Ray and DVD movies, as well as gaming software and accessories.

Other retailers have begun offering free shipping programs to entice shoppers to open their wallets this holiday season, including Wal-Mart Stores, J.C. Penney and Target Corp.

Chicago -- Better-than-expected response to early sales promotions mixed with relatively mild weather throughout the country are already driving holiday traffic to malls and retail outlets have caused ShopperTrak to up its 2010 holiday forecast.

Madison, Miss. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of Phase I of The Forum at Grandview, a community center development in Madison, Miss.

The 110,000-sq.-ft. Phase I opened 100% leased with anchors Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Stein Mart. The new stores join the existing anchors Miskelly Furniture and Malco Grandview Theater.

The Forum at Grandview is a joint venture of CBL and The Mattiace Co.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.'s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 22.6%, beating analysts' estimates, boosted by improvements in its credit-card business and rising food sales. The chain also projected a strong holiday, saying it expects an important sales measure to rise more sharply than it has in three years. It is hoping to lure more shoppers during the holidays with its updated store layout and a new credit-card program that offers 5% off all purchases.

New York City -- Asking rents for retail spaces in New York City hot spots are rising in certain corridors, according to The Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Fall 2010 Retail Report.

According to the report, since spring 2010, retail asking rents climbed 21% to $1700 per square foot in the Times Square corridor defined by Broadway and 7th Avenue between 42nd and 47th Streets.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Developers Diversified Realty Corp. announced the opening of Dick's Sporting Goods at The Fountains, a completely redeveloped 477,343-sq.-ft. community shopping center located in Plantation, Fla.

Dick's Sporting Goods joins Kohl's, which opened in 2009, as one of the first new tenants at the redeveloped center. In addition, Jo-Ann fabric and craft stores will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. store and Lime Fresh Mexican Grill will open a 2,160-sq.-ft. restaurant early in 2011. The center also features Marshalls and HomeGoods and is 93% leased.