REAL ESTATE

Albany, Ore. -- Vintage Real Estate announced said Wednesday it has appointed Betsy Penson as general manager of its recently acquired Heritage Mall, located in Albany, Ore.

Most recently Penson was general manager/marketing director for CenterCal Properties’ Blackhawk Plaza in Danville, Calif. Earlier in her career she was the general manager and marketing director for a 400,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center, The Streets of Tanasourne in Hillsboro, Ore., and the general manager of the Lancaster Mall in Salem, Ore.

New York -- Douglas Elliman Real Estate's Retail Group said it has arranged for luxury sportswear brand Le Civette to anchor its first U.S. store at 1242 Madison Avenue, between 89th and 90th Streets.  

The Italian-based retailer will locate its new store in the last available space along the block-front; neighbors include Jacadi, Mariana Antinori and Caramel Baby.

Arlington, Texas -- Transwestern announced Tuesday that it has negotiated a new 9,994-sq.-ft. lease for Office Depot at Lincoln Square Shopping Center, located in Arlington, Texas.

The office supply retailer will open its smaller-footprint store – a 10,000-sq.-ft. prototype, downsized from the standard 20,000-sq.-ft. format.

Lincoln Square Shopping Center is a lifestyle shopping and dining center in North Arlington’s Entertainment District.

New York -- The latest data from Nielsen shows the number of U.S. convenience stores continues to expand and last year set a new record with 149,220 units.

That figures is up 1,094 units from the prior year so the increase amounts to only a 0.7% gain, according to the 2013 National Association of Convenience Stores/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count. Even so, the growth is noteworthy at a time when overall expansion of selling space in the broader retailer industry has remained stagnant even though the recession officially ended in 2009.

Valrico, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group said Wednesday that The Fresh Market has leased 18,091 sq. ft. at Lithia Crossing, located in Valrico, Fla.
 
The grocer will also open a store at Shops at Eagle Creek, in Naples, Fla. The new store will comprise 23,935 sq. ft.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Regency Centers said Wednesday it has appointed Joanna Rotonde to lead the company’s acquisitions and dispositions activities in the northeastern U.S.

Rotonde will focus on the expansion markets of Boston, Philadelphia and metro New York, and is charged with identifying, evaluating and structuring profitable property acquisition and disposition opportunities within Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.  

Rotonde previously served as assistant VP for Urstadt Biddle Properties.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Mall owner CBL & Associates Properties said Thursday that, in 2013, it will complete multi-million dollar renovations at three major malls: Friendly Center in Greensboro, N.C.; Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Va.; and The Mall of Acadiana in Lafayette, La.

New York -- Winick Realty Group said Tuesday that art gallery Garis & Hahn has leased its first location at 263 Bowery, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The storefront, located between Stanton and East Houston Streets, consists of 1,789 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 633 sq. ft. in the lower level.