Retail Execution

Charlotte, N.C. — Divaris Real Estate has arranged two leases totaling approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of retail space at the Westfield Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, N.C. Divaris represented the landlord, WEA Eastridge LP.

Los Arcos, a family owned Mexican restaurant, leased a 6,183-sq.-ft. outparcel building. Creations, a gift card shop, renewed its lease for 2,669 sq. ft.

Belk, J.C. Penney, Sears and Dillard’s anchor the mall, which is leased exclusively by Divaris.

Roanoke, Va. — PetSmart has leased 17,168 sq. ft. at he Hunting Hills Shopping Center in Roanoke, Va. Divaris Real Estate and Metro Commercial represented PetSmart in the transaction.

DRE is the exclusive tenant representative for PetSmart in Virginia and Metro Commercial is the national tenant representative for PetSmart.

Gouverneur, N.Y. -- Kinney Drugs Inc. announced that Jim Spencer, formerly COO, has been promoted to president of Kinney Drug stores. In this expanded role, Spencer will be responsible for the total customer experience and strategic growth of our retail drug stores.

In addition to overseeing pharmacy and retail operations, marketing, and merchandising, he will assume oversight responsibilities for logistics.

With the addition of an Android app, mobile workforce leader Gigwalk expects its on-demand workforce to soon exceed 600,000.

The two-year-old San Francisco-based technology company already has 325,000 workers, known as Gigwalkers, using its app on iPhones to perform a variety of mobile research and store audit functions. The addition of an app for Android phones is expected to more than double the number of Gigwalkers because Android phones are more prevalent in the market.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group Travel Mart for seven new restaurants in La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wis.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2014 and the remainder by 2020.

Ace Hardware Corp. experienced sales gains in nearly every department, leading to second-quarter revenue of $1.74 billion, a 9.7% increase from $1.07 billion. Net income increased to $42.3 million, compared to net income of $14.9 million in the same quarter last year.

CEO John Venhuizen said the co-op is plaese with the results so far in 2013. "Sales increased in virtually every department with significant growth at both wholesale and retail from our Discovery Edge, Level 3 merchandising re-sets and branding inititatives," he said. 

Virginia Beach, Va. — Two Firehouse Subs shops opened Monday, an 1,800-sq.-ft. location in Virginia Beach’s Strawbridge area and a 2,400-sq.-ft. location in Hampton’s Coliseum Central.

Divaris Real Estate represented the sub shop in negotiations for each location.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — Stéphane Gonthier, chief operating officer at Dollarama since September 2007, will be leaving the company to become president and CEO of 99 Cents Only Stores, as well as a member of its board. 

Gonthier’s appointment is expected to become effective in the next 60 days. Interim CEO Richard Anicetti, a successful food retailing executive, will return to his role solely as a member of the board.