REAL ESTATE

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced a strategic agreement with MobileBits Holdings Corp., provider of SAMY, a mobile marketing and engagement platform, to acquire DDR's proprietary location-based mobile marketing solution ValuText.

MobileBits will integrate the ValuText product into the SAMY solution and will make the solution available to DDR tenants and shopping centers. SAMY is an innovative 'mobile mall' application that allows shoppers to gain instant access to the latest discounts, coupons and loyalty cards, via their mobile devices.

Slidell, La. -- Dillard’s will anchor the fashion-oriented Phase II of Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, La., according to co-developers CBL & Associates Properties, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Stirling Properties out of Covington, La. Phase I of the project is currently under construction with approximately 330,000 sq. ft. anchored by Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michael’s, T.J. Maxx, and Best Buy. Phase II will include up to 320,000 sq. ft. of additional retail space.

Minneapolis -- Cassidy Turley announced the promotion of five employees at its Minneapolis office.
 
Brian Woolsey has been promoted to managing director; he previously served as senior VP. Jennifer Pelant has been promoted to associate VP from associate; Mark Richardson has been promoted to assistant chief operating engineer, from lead operating engineer; Angela Samargia has been promoted to senior property manager, from property manager; and Robert Franks was promoted to business manager from senior office manager.
 

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. has promoted John Paul (J.P.) Guzzardo to the position of VP development, charging him with leading the Build to Suit department focused on ground-up development projects in the U.S.

Previously, Guzzardo held positions as real estate manager and director of real estate for Sembler.

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Two new merchants will soon be joining the retail lineup at Spotsylvania Towne Centre in Fredericksburg, Va., according to Cafaro Co., based in Youngstown, Ohio.

Soma Intimates and Londons will open this summer in the outdoor shopping district of the complex, The Village at Towne Centre. Londons will open first, occupying just about 2,000 sq. ft. next to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. By late August, Soma will open its 2,500-sq.-ft. store next to White House | Black Market.

Tokyo -- Starbucks Coffee Company’s CEO Howard Schultz on Friday celebrated the opening of the new Starbucks Meguro store in Tokyo. The store, whose experience was inspired by the traditional Japanese ‘Ichi-go ichi-e’ service spirit (literal translation: one time, one meeting), is located is the same building as the new Starbucks Coffee Japan Support Center.
 

New York -- Officials in Baton Rouge have approved more than $7 million in incentives to bring a Costco store to the Louisiana city, the Associated Press reported.  
   
Costco is expected to open a 150,000-sq-ft. store by next April at the site of a former Coca-Cola bottling facility, the report said.

Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- WS Development announced that it will develop an outlet center in Cheshire, Conn. WS Development will introduce leading fashion and designer outlet stores to the 500,000 -sq.-ft. project, which is expected to open in summer 2015.

This open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complex will also include public open space, walkways, recreation amenities, a residential component and full service grocer.