Supermarket/Grocery

New York -- U.S. chain-store sales posted a gain of 4.0% for the fiscal month of September on a year-over-year basis according to a tally compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Excluding gasoline sales, the September tally would actually be +5.1%.

Fred’s saw positive performance in its general merchandise and pharmacy departments, which lead to sales of $177.3 million in September, an increase of 4% over September 2012.

The Memphis, Tenn.-based company, which operates 702 stores in the South, said same-store sales increased by 2.8%, compared with a 3.8% decrease last year.

For the year to date, sales were $1.3 billion, a 1% increase over $1.3 billion during the same period last year. Same-store sales increased by 0.8%, compared with a 1.2% decrease last year.

Los Angeles — The U.S. commercial real estate market continued a slow, but steady, recovery in the third quarter of 2013, according to the latest analysis from CBRE Group.

In the quarter, the retail availability rate declined 10 basis points to 12.2% and had fallen 70 basis points from one year ago.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has announced the grand re-opening of the redeveloped The Shops at Nanuet, a 750,000-sq.-ft. open-air main street center in Rockland County, N.Y.

With the re-opening, three new anchors are making a debut: Fairway Market, open now, Regal Cinemas, opening in November, and 24-Hour Fitness, opening in December. They will join existing anchors Macy’s and Sears at the property.

New York -- Whole Foods Market has signed a lease for a 29,000-sq-ft. store in Newark, N.J., according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

The store is expected to be an anchor tenant in a 112-year-old landmark building that was once occupied by the Hahne & Co. department store. The building is being converted into a multi-use space that will feature apartments, retail and office space.
The project is a joint partnership between the Newark-based Hanini Group and L&M Development Partners of New York.

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.

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.

Chino Hills, Calif. — The Shoppes at Chino Hills, a 380,000-sq.-ft. community and lifestyle center in Chino Hills, Calif., has announced leases with five new retailers.

DB Shoes has opened its first Inland Empire store in a 6,100-sq.-ft. space next to Aeropostale.

Another Inland Empire first is The Kickin’ Crab, set to open in the spring of 2014.

Originally an online business, Kid’s Wonderland recently opened its first brick-and-mortar retail location at Chino Hills.