Mass Merchant

Columbia, S.C. — Edens Investment Trust has closed a $1.47 billion equity transaction composed of the $718 million sale of a 29% equity stake in the company and a $750 million equity commitment from the company’s institutional investors.

In the sales transaction, a Blackstone-sponsored real estate investment vehicle acquired a $718 million stake in Edens from the State of Michigan Retirement System.

Hampstead, Md. – The board of directors of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. has unanimously rejected a non-binding acquisition proposal it received on Nov. 26, 2013, from The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. Assisted by outside financial advisors, the board determined the price of roughly $1.54 billion significantly undervalued the company and its near and long-term potential and was not in the best interest of the company's shareholders.

Yonkers, N.Y. – Unsurprisingly, crowds and long lines are the single biggest consumer dread for the holiday season. According to a new Consumer Reports poll, 61% of consumers dread crowds and long lines, followed by bad traffic (54%).

Moreno Valley, Calif. — Image, a junior fashion retailer, has re-opened at the Moreno Valley Mall in Moreno Valley, Calif., with a big brand new image. The new store has expanded to 10,000 sq. ft. and is located on the lower level between Crazy 8 and Sports Treasure, according to Spinoso Real Estate Group, the mall’s property manager.

Batavia, Ill. – Discount grocer Aldi is launching a five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the United States. The chain launched its expansion efforts with the decision to build its regional headquarters and distribution center in Moreno Valley, Calif.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack has opened its newest Manhattan location as a pop-up concept store at Penn Station. The limited-time-only location is the third RadioShack pop-up store to open in Manhattan.

In addition, RadioShack has opened a total of eight concept stores in the Manhattan area. The newest pop-up opened five days after construction began.

Big data discovery and data sharing firm 1010data, Inc., named former Oracle exec Richard Michalec as its AVP of retail strategy and strategic accounts.

Alameda, Calif. — Carter’s, a children’s clothing and accessories retailer, has signed a 10-year lease for a 4,178-sq.-ft. store at Alameda South Shore Center in Alameda, Calif., according to Jamestown, a real estate investment and management firm.

The new store, located close to Kohl’s, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014. SRS Real Estate Partners represented Carter’s in the transaction.