REAL ESTATE

New York -- Saks Inc. said Thursday that it will close its Highland Park, Ill., store, located in Renaissance Place, and its Austin, Texas, store, located in the Arboretum Market.

Both stores are slated to close on Dec. 31.

New York -- Gap Inc.’s Piperlime banner has opened its first full-scale retail location -- at 121 Wooster St. in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating the opening of our first Piperlime store today in SoHo," said Jennifer Gosselin, senior VP and general manager of Piperlime. "

The new 4,000-sq.-ft. store is styled as a boutique and features trend vignettes, as well as in-store kiosks that provide shoppers access to piperlime.com products.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s said Thursday that it has appointed Chris Johnson as its VP real estate. He succeeds James Cherry, Jr., who retired in December.

Johnson, a CPA, was previously VP of accounting for the department store retailer.
 

New York -- The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday will open its first store under the Disney Baby banner, USA Today reported. The new store is located in Americana, an upscale shopping center in Glendale, Calif.

“This gives Disney the opportunity to reach out to moms when magical moments begin," Bob Chapek, president of Disney Consumer Products, told USA Today. "There's no more special occasion than the birth of a baby."

Boston -- CBRE/Grossman Retail Advisors said that Nordstrom will open a new Nordstrom Rack at The Newbry in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, further expanding its presence in the Boston market to four full-line stores and four Nordstrom Racks.

The approximately 38,000-sq.-ft., two-level store is scheduled to open spring 2013.
 

Baldwin Park, Calif. -- NewMark Merrill Cos. announced that three new tenants have joined Park Plaza on Maine, located in Baldwin Park, Calif., joining Superior Grocers, CVS, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Chase Bank, El Pollo Loco, GNC and Bank of America.

Menchie’s Yogurt signed a five-year lease for a 1,586-sq.-ft. location; LA Eyebrow signed a five-year lease for a 1,220-sq.-ft. space; and Family Dollar signed a lease for the approximately 9,000-sq.-ft. space next door to Superior Grocers.

Pembroke Pines, Fla. -- Indianapolis-based, Kite Realty Group said that Massage Envy has leased 4,066 sq. ft. at Cobblestone Plaza, located in Pembroke Pines, Fla. 

Kite Realty Group represented the landlord, KRG CREC/KS Pembroke Pines, LLC.

Cobblestone Plaza is anchored by Whole Foods, All Pets Emporium and Party City. The center sites on approximately 22 acres with 140,452 sq. ft. of retail space.
 

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate said that the company completed eight lease transactions totaling more than 81,000 sq. ft. of retail space in central Virginia.

Children’s Museum of Richmond leased 26,060 sq. ft. of retail space in the Divaris-leased Winterpock Crossing Shopping Center, located in Midlothian, Va.

K&G Menswear signed a lease for 22,888 sq. ft. of retail space in White Oak Village, located in Richmond and owned by Forest City Commercial Group.