Real Estate Roundup: August update
August had its fair share of retail real estate development news, tenant updates, property acquisitions and more.
Here are some of the biggest real estate news stories from June (starting with the most recent).
- Bobby Flay's hamburger chain to open 65 locations in Canada Bobby’s Burgers By Bobby Flay has signed a multi-year agreement with The Falcon Capital Group to open 65 locations across Canada. The flagship restaurant for the chain will open its doors in downtown Toronto, with future locations actively being scouted across the Greater Toronto Area in both neighborhoods and lifestyle centers.
- Dillard’s teams up to buy a shopping mall Department store retailer Dillard’s has partnered with mixed-use developer Trademark Property Co. to purchase Longview Mall in Longview, Texas, from Washington Prime Group. Trademark will lead operations and leasing for the 646,000-sq.-ft. property, where Dillard’s is an anchor tenant. Longview Mall is the only enclosed regional mall within a 45-mile radius.
- First Look: H&M opens new format at L.A.'s Original Farmers Market The Swedish apparel giant has debuted its reimagined store concept at The Original Farmers Market, an iconic venue with close to 90 grocers, retailers and restaurants, located at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles, adjacent to popular shopping center The Grove. Spanning approximately 15,000 sq. ft. across two floors, the store offers H&M's full assortment of womenswear and menswear, and marks the first of several new stores planned for the city this year.
- Bed Bath & Beyond will not open stores in this state Bed Bath & Beyond is launching a brick-and-mortar comeback, but is skipping the nation’s most populated state. Beyond Inc., parent of Bed Bath & Beyond, issued a statement from executive chairman Marcus Lemonis explaining the company’s decision to not open or operate stores in California, although online delivery will be available there.
- Chips ahoy! Nabe center near rising semiconductor plant sells for $71 million Lena Centers, a subsidiary of Boston-based Longpoint Partners, has acquired Stetson Village, a 144,192-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored shopping center on West Happy Valley Road in north Phoenix for $71 million. The neighborhood center is set upon 18.6 acres, very near to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s 1,100-acre manufacturing hub, where it is under construction on its third plant.
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- Report: Texas leading nation in retail real estate construction According to recent data from commercial real estate services firm Colliers, between January 2021 and January 2025, Texas recorded a positive net domestic migration of 0.9%. Although construction slowed in 2020 amid pandemic-driven uncertainty, by early 2025, more than 17 million sq. ft. was under construction, with growth fueled by the state’s largest cities of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
- 2025’s top traffic-builders: Movie theaters, attractions, gyms Experiences, not merchandise, drew more traffic at retail centers in 2025’s first six months. While visits ticked down slightly at restaurants, superstores, and home improvement brands, business was brisk in movie theaters and music venues (+9.2%), attractions (+5.6%) and fitness facilities (+4.3%), according to a report from Colliers.
- JLL: Investment in retail real estate rose by 23% in 2025’s first half The onslaught of store closures by the likes of Big Lots, Joann and Rite Aid had brands and real estate investors snapping up space at a quick pace in the first half of 2025. On average, new leases for vacated spaces were signed within seven months of closure — the shortest lag period in more than 20 years according to JLL’s “Retail Market Dynamics” report.
- Cordish Companies development veteran joins Poag The retail real estate developer has named David Zelman as senior VP of development. Zelman will guide design and construction efforts across Poag's portfolio, “translating strategic vision into retail environments that emphasize comfort, convenience, and community connection," said the company. Before joining Poag, Zelman served as VP of architecture and design at The Cordish Companies, where he oversaw the development of casinos, dining concepts, and live entertainment venues for more than eight and a half years.
- Trademark to reposition Orlando’s Winter Garden Village Trademark — the Fort Worth-based retail center owner-operator known for its makeovers of properties the likes of North Point Mall in Georgia and Annapolis Town Center in Maryland — has been hired to do the same for Winter Garden Village in Orlando. The 1.2 million-sq.-ft. regional center anchored by Lowe’s, Target and Bealls was recently acquired from Site Centers by RA2-Winter Gardens Village for $165 million in cash.
- Simon names new COO, North American real estate co-presidents America’s largest shopping center owner has promoted one of its leaders to a new role. Simon Property Group has promoted Eli Simon, executive VP, chief investment officer and director, to the role of chief operating officer. He will work directly with David Simon, chairman, CEO and president, on all aspects of Simon's businesses including property performance, new development projects, strategic investments and brand strategy.
- Dutch Bros fires ‘on all cylinders’ in Q2; plots ambitious long-term growth The fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain continued to expand its footprint during the second quarter, opening 31 new shops across 13 states, for a total of 1,053 locations in 19 states. It remains on track to open “at least” 160 new shops this year. Dutch Bros said it expects to have 2,029 locations in 2029.
