REAL ESTATE

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. announced Tuesday a strategic plan to shore up sales and profitability that will involve accelerating the closure of 15 U.S. stores and 45 stores in Europe.

The office supplies retailer also said it will ramp up investment in its online and mobile efforts.

The announcement comes after a soft second quarter in which profit and traffic dipped downward.
 

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group on Tuesday announced the launch of the Real Green Research Challenge, a four-year, $1 million commitment to fund leading-edge sustainability research and innovation relating to commercial real estate.

CBRE said it is accepting submissions for research proposals, with the goal of developing solutions to the industry’s critical environmental challenges.

By Sandra Gold Slon

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group said that a new lineup of tenants has committed to opening at its St. Louis Premium Outlets property in Chesterfield, Mo., bringing the center to 75% pre-leased.

BCBGMAXAZRIA, Charlotte Russe, Jos. A. Bank, Motherhood Maternity, Max Studio and Sarar will open new stores at the value destination. Sportswear and accessories brands to be featured at the property will include Bass, Gold Toe, Jockey, Rue21, Saucony, Sperry and Vera Bradley. Others include Kitchen Collection, Samsonite, Fragrance Outlet and Ultra Diamonds.

New York -- IPG Real Estate said Monday that Amish Market, a landmark Manhattan gourmet market located in the Midtown neighborhood of TriBeCa, is being offered for sale in hopes of an offer prior to an auction slated for November 2012.

The supermarket/deli features 7,500 sq. ft., including 1,000 sq. ft. of mezzanine, supported by 2,000 sq. ft. of basement space. An initial review by a court-appointed Chapter 11 trustee verified $8.2 million in sales from a September 2011 to an August 2012 time period.
 

Cincinnati -- Macy's is enhancing its presence in the Las Vegas market. The department store retailer has signed on as the first anchor tenant at the Shops at Summerlin, in west Las Vegas.  

Macy’s will build a two-level, 180,000-sq.-ft. store in the open- air center, which is being developed by The Howard Hughes Corp. The new Macy’s is expected to open in fall 2014, with construction beginning in fall 2013.

The 1.5 million sq.-ft. Summerlin will feature over 125 stores and restaurants.

Yonkers, N.Y. -- Charter Realty & Development announced that Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will open a 25,596-sq.-ft. location at Yonkers Gateway Center in Yonkers, N.Y.

Alamo will be occupying a former United Artists Theatre – Regal Cinema with co-tenants such as Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory, Gap, Nine West, Starbucks, DSW Shoe Warehouse and more.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial announced that True Food Kitchen will open a 5,915-sq.-ft restaurant at The Plaza at Preston Center, a five-story mixed-use development under construction in Dallas.

True Food, a Fox Restaurant Concepts brand, is slated to open in 2013 in a ground-floor space of a building that is devoted to retail tenants.