Mass Merchant

Beachwood, Ohio -- Shopping center developer DDR Corp. said Monday that Anna's Linens will open three of its first Puerto Rico stores at DDR shopping centers.

These new locations represent the most recent example of DDR's efforts to strategically reduce and reconfigure small shop space at attractive market rents with high-quality tenants.

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties announced it has acquired Shreveport, La.-based Avant Properties, strengthening Stirling’s presence in the Gulf South.

Avant Properties’ current personnel and portfolio will be integrated into Stirling Properties operations. 

Naperville, Ill. -- Brixmor Property Group announced a 4,000-sq.-ft. Gymboree Play and Music recently opened at Westridge Court, located in Naperville, Ill.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Westridge Court.

NEW YORK — A New York state Supreme Court filing on Monday disclosed that Macy’s Inc. is suing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. for breach of contract after Martha Stewart set up a new deal last December with JCPenney to sell products at its stores.

West Chester, Ohio -- Ikea said Tuesday that it has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its Cincinnati-area store in West Chester, Ohio. 

The 128,000-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 1,026-kW system, built with 4,186 panels. Ikea West Chester’s program will produce approximately 1,334,300 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,014 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 180 cars or powering 115 homes yearly.

New York City -- Hudson’s Bay Co. has completed the acquisition of Lord & Taylor, according to a report by Women’s Wear Daily.

The report said that HBC owner Richard Baker has dissolved the umbrella company that had until now held the two chains, and that HBC would now operate The Bay and Lord & Taylor. The new entity will be run by Bay CEO Bonnie Brooks, according to the report.

Usually Walmart is the retailer promoting the midnight release of some hot Hollywood title, but early next month Target is taking a run at the new release strategy with the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers Corp. announced changes in its executive management team. Bruce Johnson, executive VP and CFO has announced that he will retire at the end of 2012. Effective with his retirement, Lisa Palmer, senior VP of capital markets, will succeed him as CFO.