Mass Merchant

New York -- Macerich announced that Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine emporium in the world, has reached an agreement to open its second U.S. location, at The Shops at North Bridge near Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

The new location, expected to open in September 2013, will be the concept's largest, at 60,000 sq. ft. Eataly opened its first U.S. store, in Manhattan, in 2010.
Eataly is a collaboration among Joe Bastianich, Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and Oscar Farinetti, who founded Eataly in Turin, Italy, in 2007.

Milwaukee -- Opus Development Corp. announced the scheduled openings of T.J Maxx, Ulta Salon and Cosmetics, Rue 21 and Charming Charlie’s by Oct. 28 at the company’s Shoppes at Fox River development in Waukesha, Wis.

Opus broke ground on the first development in Phase II of the Shoppes at Fox River in April 2012. The development includes more than 47,000 sq. ft. of retail space on six acres of land adjacent to the existing Phase I buildings, which opened in 2009 and include Target and Pick ‘n Save.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based Fameco Real Estate said that Party City and VisionWorks have signed leases at Upland Square, located in West Pottsgrove, Pa.
 
Party City has signed a lease for 9,000 sq. ft. and VisionWorks has signed a lease for 3,825 sq. ft. These retailers will join anchors Target, Giant, Best Buy, LA Fitness, TJ Maxx and Bed, Bath & Beyond at the 600,000-sq.-ft. power center.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Tuesday it will sell its $5.9 billion credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group.

The business will be sold for an amount equal to the gross value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing, said Target; the portfolio currently has a gross value of about $5.9 billion.

TD Bank also agreed to a seven-year deal to underwrite, fund and own the retailer’s future credit card and Visa receivables in the U.S.

Franklin Township, N.J. -- Crossroads Cos., based in Mahwah, N.J., announced that three new Crossroads at Somerset lease agreements have rendered the retail Phase II component of the grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping center fully occupied.

Integrated Health, La Vida Massage and and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will join the 118,000-sq.-ft, mixed-use project, already tenanted by Verizon Wireless, My Tokyo Sushi, Let’s Yo Frozen Yogurt, Frank’s Pizza and Hair Cuttery.

Melrose, Mass. -- Charter Realty and Development Corp. said it has acquired the 52,000-sq.-ft. Towers Plaza for $8.6 million.

The neighborhood shopping center, located in Melrose, Mass., a suburb of Boston, was originally built in 1965 and later renovated and expanded. It is anchored by Johnnie’s Foodmaster Supermarket and Rite Aid.  

Charter said it anticipates doing a façade renovation as well as upgrades to the common area. The work will commence this fall and continue in the spring.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- The Macerich Co. announced on Monday plans to acquire Kings Plaza, located in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Green Acres Mall, located in Valley Stream, N.Y., on the border of New York City and Nassau County. 

Kings Plaza is being acquired from a subsidiary of Alexander's for $751 million, with a closing date set for late 2012. Green Acres is being acquired from a subsidiary of Vornado Realty Trust for $500 million, with a first quarter 2013 closing date.

Sarasota, Fla. – Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman Centers and Sarasota, Fla.-based Benderson Development Co. announced the ground breaking on a $315-million, 880,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in Sarasota, Fla.

The Mall at University Town Center will be a two-level enclosed mall anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s and Macy’s, and featuring more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants.

The Mall at University Town Center is scheduled to open in Oct. 2014.