REAL ESTATE

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced that senior executive VP and CFO David J. Oakes has been named president of the company, effective Jan. 1.
 
Oakes will remain CFO, and will continue to report to CEO Daniel B. Hurwitz.
 
Oakes joined DDR as executive VP of finance and chief investment officer in April 2007. He was promoted to senior EVP finance and chief investment officer in December 2008, and CFO in February 2010.

Houston -- Houston-based X Team International partner Baker Katz said that it has completed the sale of the former Syms clothing store in Houston’s Westchase District.

The 40,777-sq.-ft. building was sold to Tennis Express for an undisclosed amount. Tennis Express will relocate an existing store and consolidate off-site storage into the new location.
 

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. on Thursday announced the acquisition of two prime power centers for $151 million during the fourth quarter.

DDR purchased Carolina Pavilion, located in Charlotte, N.C., from Blackstone Real Estate Partners for $106 million. The 94% leased, 852,000-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Target, Kohl's, Nordstrom Rack, Ross Dress for Less, Buybuy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and AMC Theatres.

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that Hale & Hearty has signed a lease for its latest location at 177 Madison Avenue, between East 33rd and East 34th Streets.
 
The tenant will occupy 2,500 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 2,500 sq. ft. in the basement.
 
Hale & Hearty Soups currently has 28 locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island.

Tucson, Ariz. -- Commercial Retail Advisors said that Wags To Riches Pet Grooming Salon has signed a new lease for 900 sq. ft. in Plaza Sonora and plans to relocate there in March 2013.

Wags To Riches has two pet grooming salons in the Tucson area.

New York -- Polaroid has announced plans to launch a new experiential retail concept called Polaroid Fotobar, opening at least 10 locations in 2013. The stores are designed to allow consumers to take the images from their digital devices and easily turn them into museum-quality art. Polaroid Fotobar envisions the stores becoming a recreational and entertainment destination in addition to a place to shop.

At a time of year when much of the retail news we hear focuses on receipts and holiday sales performance, I can’t help thinking that the notion of value has become synonymous with price — and only price. You can make the argument that price has nearly hijacked the whole definition of value. Why is that, exactly? Should retailers be paying closer and more systematic attention to how they articulate (and how customers perceive) the value of their brand?

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Dollar Tree has announced that it intends to expand its distribution center in Marietta, Oak., by an additional 400,000 sq. ft. More than 100 full time positions will be created as a result of the expansion.

The facility in Marietta opened in 2003 and is currently 603,000 sq. ft. This facility supplies products to stores across eleven states, including all of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, and portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.