Supply Chain & Merchandising

Los Angeles -- SPL Realty Partners announced that it has secured a retail space for footwear retailer Aerosoles in Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles.

The 2,059-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open on May 19 in the new third phase of Citadel Outlets, the only outlet center in Los Angeles County. The space boasts almost 50 ft. of frontage and sits adjacent to Under Armour, across from adidas and converse and steps from a large parking field.

New York City -- Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, a division of Kroger Co., has been recognized by the Utah Association of Energy Users as a leader in conservation and energy-use efficiency, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The chain, which received the “Outstanding Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Conservation” award on Wednesday at the 26th Annual Western States Energy Conference in Salt Lake City, was recognized for retrofitting its 132 stores in seven states with more efficient energy systems.

Bryn Mawr, Pa. -- WP Realty and Angelo, Gordon & Co. announced the acquisition of the Shaw’s portfolio, consisting of seven Shaw’s-anchored shopping centers and one free-standing Hannaford Bros. located throughout Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island.

The portfolio totals 659,143 sq. ft, is 97% leased and contains a mix of national, regional and local tenants. Shaw’s occupies 419,098 sq. ft. across the portfolio, Hannaford Bros. occupies 45,882 sq. ft., Staples 23,942 sq. ft., among others.
 

One of the more interesting developments in the retail industry is set to unfold in a series of small towns along the Western edge of Arkansas where Walmart is set open the first of its experimental small formats.

Houston -- The Vista Cos. and Vista Spring Green, Ltd. announced that McDonald's USA has signed a 56,000-sq.-ft. ground lease at The Plazas at Spring Green.

Construction on a new 4,800-sq.-ft. McDonald’s restaurant will begin in the coming weeks and is set to open in November.

The Plazas at Spring Green, a Vista Equities Group development, is located in Katy, Texas.

Turns out Shakespeare’s famous line, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” doesn’t quite fit with every scenario. Case in point, Wal-Mart Stores, which, according to Millward Brown Optimor’s BrandZ ranking of the top 20 global retail brands, saw its brand value diminish when it decided to rename its Wal-Mart stores, Walmart. 

New York City -- Winick Realty Group announced that Island Burgers & Shakes, the 15-year-old burger restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, has signed a lease for its second Manhattan location at 422 Amsterdam Avenue, between 80th and 81st Streets on the Upper West Side.

Island Burgers & Shakes will occupy 700 sq. ft. of ground-floor space, as well as a 500-sq.-ft. basement, when it opens later this year.
 

New York City -- Safeway’s store in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C, has earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The 71,067-sq.ft. store is the grocer’s second LEED-certified store, and the first LEED certified store in DC.