Discount Store

New York City -- O'Connor/Wafra Retail Partners, a fund sponsored by O'Connor Capital Partners and Wafra Investment Advisory Group, said it has acquired a 278,209-sq.ft., open-air center, Baybrook Village, in Houston.

Baybrook Village is anchored by Sports Authority, Ross and Toys ‘R’ Us, and also features PetSmart, Ulta, Jos. A. Bank and Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts.  

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.

Madison, Wis. -- Lee & Associates’ Madison office said it has completed $2.8 million of leases at The Shoppes at Hartford; a 24,000-sq.-ft. retail center in Hartford, Wis. 

Located next to a new Wal-Mart Super Center, Lee Madison had the center 75% pre-leased before construction commenced and 100% leased before construction was finalized. Construction commenced April 1, and all tenants are expected to open before Christmas 2011.

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.

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.

Thousand Oaks, Calif. -- Shoe repair store Shoe Lab has opened at Janss Marketplace, in Thousand Oaks, Calif., joining tenants such as Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, Buca di Beppo, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, Gold’s Gym, Old Navy, Mann Theaters, and TGI Friday’s. 

Janss Marketplace is managed by NewMark Merrill Cos., LLC.

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.  

The pricing gap between Target and Walmart narrowed last month to a scant 1.7% as Walmart took prices up slightly during August while Target did the opposite, according to a monthly survey by the retail research team at Credit Suisse.