REAL ESTATE

Dallas-Fort Worth -- Venture Commercial announced that Park Tavern will open a Fort Worth, Texas, location in downtown City Place Center.

The 8,111-sq.-ft. space will be Park Tavern’s second DFW location. The original location is in the Shops at Park Lane in Dallas.

Venture also announced that sports apparel retailer Rally House Texas has leased a 9,228-sq.-ft. space in the Overton Ridge Shopping Center, located in Fort Worth.  

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced that John N. Foy has retired as an officer of the organization and as a director and vice chairman of CBL’s board of directors.

Foy will remain until the end of the year to assist with the transition. His retirement concludes a 44-year career with the CBL organization and its predecessor company.

Northbrook, Ill. -- Pine Tree Commercial Realty said its affiliate has acquired a Rainbow Foods grocery store in Bloomington, Minn.

The purchase expands the real estate development firm’s portfolio of shopping centers to include freestanding grocery stores.

The 64,130-sq.-ft. building is fully leased to Rainbow Foods, and features nearby retailers Target and Walgreens.
 
Rainbow Foods is a division of Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc.
 

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. said it has promoted Sue Harker to director of property management.

Harker will oversee the full-service management of over 12.5 million sq. ft. of retail centers across Florida and the Southeastern United States.
     

Champaign, Ill. -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Kroger Limited Partnership 1 has signed a lease for 20,437 sq. ft. at Champaign Town Center in Champaign, Ill., to open a Ruler Foods discount grocery store in March 2013.

Fayetteville, N.C. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced an expansion of Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, N.C. The 46,000-sq.-ft. expansion will deliver new retailers to the fully leased center, such as Chico’s, Loft, White House|Black Market, Men’s Wearhouse, Reed’s Jewelers and Lane Bryant.  Additional stores and restaurants will be announced as the project progresses.  

Construction on the expansion is scheduled to begin in early 2013, with a grand opening anticipated in late fall 2013.

Watchung, N.J. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. said that Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet has leased 8,500 sq. ft. at Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, N.J., becoming the latest eatery to join the 419,000-sq.-ft. retail property.

The free-standing restaurant will open in early 2013.

Levin Management is the shopping center’s leasing and managing agent. Blue Star is anchored by Kohl's, ShopRite, Marshalls (which recently extended its long-term lease), Michaels and Toys "R" Us.

Sao Paolo, Brazil -- A Wednesday report by Reuters said that Brazilian grocer Grupo Pão de Açúcar – the country’s largest retailer – plans to open 100 new mini stores in 2013. The small-format concept is called Minimercado Extra, according to CFO Vitor Fagá.

The Minimercardo Extra format of small neighborhood supermarkets will continue to be the focus of the group's growth, according to Fagá. The company is also working to expand its presence in Brazil's northeast and center-west regions.