Retail

South Plainfield, N.J. -- Charter Realty said it has been selected to lease Oak Park Commons located in South Plainfield, N.J.
 
The single-story, 136,939-sq.-ft. community shopping center is anchored by A&P Supermarket in 60,025 sq. ft. and includes a mix of national, regional and local tenants.
 
Oak Park Commons is currently 76% occupied with 33,508 sq. ft. of available space.
 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is opening its first store in East Peoria, Ill. in March 2013. The 135,000 sq. ft. store, located at Clock Tower Drive and West Washington Street, will be part of the 86-acre East Peoria Downtown development.

According to Target, the new store will feature the typical Target assortment along with a selection of fresh produce, fresh packaged meat and pre-packaged baked goods as well as a Starbucks and a Target Pharmacy to further enhance guests’ experience. The store will employ approximately 150 to 200 team members.

Reston, Va. -- Four in every five smartphone users – 85.9 million in total – accessed retail content on their device in July, according to a study by comScore. Amazon sites led as the top retailer with an audience of 49.6 million visitors, representing 46.6% of smartphone owners, followed by eBay with 32.6 million visitors and Apple with 17.7 million visitors.

Los Angeles -- The Westfield Group announced that David T. Weinert will join the U.S. unit of the group as senior executive VP leasing.

Weinert joins Westfield after 25 years with the Taubman Co., most recently serving as senior VP of leasing.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail's net income plunged 94% in its fiscal fourth quarter, dragged down by costs related to its acquisition of Charming Shoppes Inc. Its adjusted earnings topped Wall Street's view.

Ascena, owners of the Dressbarn, Maurices and Justice, announced in May that it was buying Charming Shoppes, whose divisions include Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines Plus for approximately $890 million. Ascena is in the process of closing Fashion Bug's stores.

Total home improvement dollars increased by 7% when comparing the 12 months ended July 2012 with the previous 12 months, according to consumer research from The NPD Group.

The units of home improvement items sold grew less than 2%, according to the Port Washington, N.Y.-based research firm.

Much of the unit growth in the home improvement industry was driven by hand tools, the second largest segment based on unit sales after storage and organization. Hand tools saw an 8% increase in units between August 2011 and July 2012.

Tempe, Ariz. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said that Arizona Mills will continue to expand its retail mix this October with the opening of Crazy 8.

Crazy 8, a concept from The Gymboree Corp., will be located across from J.C. Penney. Other retail offerings include Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, H&M, Forever 21, Kenneth Cole Company Store, American Eagle Outfitters, G by Guess, 2b Bebe and more.

Whole Foods seems to have figured out that a mall setting shouldn’t be a real estate deterrent. In fact, it might be a real asset.

The grocer has been stretching its site-selection wings over the last couple of years, but has positively taken flight with its latest opening – a 32,000-sq.-ft. store at the Fashion Island regional shopping center in Orange County, Calif.