Large Chains

Schurman Retail Group, owners of Papyrus North America, unveiled its newest concept, Niquea D., on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The store features women’s jewelry and accessories, clothing, scents, home décor, and paper and gift products.  

With a mix of antique furniture, one-of-a-kind chandeliers, and hand-painted rich blue damask walls, the 900-sq.-ft. space has the feel and look of a Parisian boutique. A second Manhattan location is scheduled to open later this fall, downtown on Hudson Street

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway Inc. saw its net income plunge 58% from $157 million to $65.8 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2013, amid a software impairment charge, higher theft and lower property gains. Results, however, beat expectations however.

Sales grew 1.1% from $8.52 billion to $8.62 billion, driven by a 1.9% improvement in same-store sales.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced it plans to get rid of its 72 Dominick's stores in the Chicago area, exiting the market in early 2014.

Safeway’s decision comes after Dominick's had a net loss of $8.4 million for the third quarter, ended Sept. 7, compared with a loss of $6.2 million in the year-ago period, and a net loss of $21.5 million for the year to date, compared with $16.8 million for the year- ago period.

Atlanta — Kimco Realty Corporation has acquired Five Forks Crossing, a 73,910-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored retail center in Lilburn, Ga., according to Transwestern, the firm that brokered the transaction.

Five Forks Crossing occupies 6.6 acres in Lilburn in the Gwinnett County submarket near Ronald Reagan Parkway. Anchored by Kroger, the property is 100% leased.

Transwestern represented the seller, SWA Investment.

Safeway plans to exit the Chicago market where it operates 72 supermarkets under the Dominick’s banner by early 2014 after posting third quarter profits that were roughly half those of the comparable period the prior year.
The decision to exit Chicago follows similar move earlier this year when Safeway announced the sale of its Canadian operations.

Miami Gardens, Fla. — The owners of Palmetto Gardens Plaza, a 7.1-acre center in Miami Gardens, have reached a settlement with PNC Bank, secured a new loan with Hudson Financial Services and signed a lease with Wal-Mart for a Neighborhood Market Store as its anchor tenant.

In January of 2010, PNC Bank filed a foreclosure action against Palmetto Design Center, the property owner. That action has been settled.

New York -- Changes in foreign exchange rates had a negative impact on Costco’s comparable store sales for the fourth quarter ended Sept. 1, but the wholesaler still reported increases in both its U.S. and international markets. 

The company’s comparable sales for the quarter increased 5%. U.S. comparable store sales increased 5% for the quarter, while international comparable store sales increased 4%. 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie parent Bi-Lo Holdings said it would begin in 2014 the process of converting all Sweetbay stores to the Winn-Dixie name and Reid's stores to Bi-Lo, but that the Harveys banner would remain intact.

The grocery retailer acquired all three banners from Brussels, Belgium-based Delhaize Group last May.

Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie parent Bi-Lo Holdings plans to retire the Sweetbay and Reid’s banners. The company will begin converting all Sweetbay stores to the Winn-Dixie name and Reid's stores to Bi-Lo in 2014, and confirmed the Harveys banner would remain intact.

The grocery retailer acquired all three banners from Brussels, Belgium-based Delhaize Group last May.

Springfield, Mass. — Charter Realty has announced four leases totaling 59,030 sq. ft. in the Springfield Plaza Center in Springfield, Mass.

Planet Fitness will move into a 20,000-sq.-ft. facility currently under construction. Aaron’s Rentals has renewed its lease for 8,030 sq. ft. Rocky’s Ace Hardware has also renewed on 25,500 sq. ft. Finally, the 99 Restaurant has renewed a 5,500-sq.-ft. space.

K-Mart, Super Stop and Shop and TJMAXX anchor the 550,000-sq.-ft. Springfield Plaza Center.