REAL ESTATE

Henderson, Nev. -- Frozen yogurt purveyor U-Swirl said Thursday that its area developer for the Houston market has signed a lease for its first of a 10-miminum store commitment to be opened over the next 48 months.

Houston is the fifteenth area in 13 states where U-Swirl is currently developing locations. It currently has 29 yogurt cafes open and operating.

 

Richmond, Va. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties said Thursday that Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a new store at Southpark Mall in Richmond, Va.

The existing Dillard’s location will be redeveloped into the new 56,000-sq.-ft. Dick’s store as well as a selection of specialty stores and restaurants. Construction is scheduled to begin in October with a grand opening slated for summer 2013.

New Orleans -- Costco Wholesale Corp. will enter the state of Louisiana with a 148,000-sq.-ft. store at Carrollton Plaza Shopping Center in New Orleans.

The new lease, announced by center owner The Feil Organization, will add Costco to a lineup of retailers that includes CVS, Firestone, Family Dollar and Subway.

Costco is slated to open spring 2013.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to open a store in Merrimack, Mass., on June 14.

The 28,032-sq.-ft. store is located in Merrimack Premium Outlets, a new shopping center 55 miles northwest of Boston. The store’s launch will coincide with the outlet’s grand opening celebration, which will last from June 14 until June 17. Operated by Simon Malls, the Outlet Center will be home to a collection of 100 designer and name-brand outlet stores, up to four restaurants and a food court.

Roswell, Ga. -- PGA Tour Superstore is opening a second Chicagoland location on June 14, in Downers Grove, Ill. The company opened a store in Schaumburg, Ill., last month.

Downers Grove is PGA Tour Superstore's 14th retail location. The stores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, whose controlling owner and chairman is Arthur M. Blank, retired Home Depot co-founder and current owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

Old Bridge, N.J. -- Driven by new big-box store closures, the vacancy rate in retail properties along northern New Jersey's six major shopping corridors edged up to 8.2% in April from 8.1% a year ago and 8.0% in 2010, according to R.J. Brunelli & Co.

New York -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income more than tripled as the company opened new stores and demand grew for its fashions and accessories.

For the three months through March 31, Michael Kors earned $43.6 million, up from $13.6 million in the same quarter last year.

Revenue rose 58% to $380 million, from $240 million. Same-store sales jumped 36%.

Michael Kors opened 71 stores this year, bringing its store count to 237. Retail sales rose 80% to $172.2 million.

Pittsburgh -- Dick's Sporting Goods announced Monday it will open two new stores on June 13.

A store at Bloomfield Town Square, in Bloomfield, Mich., will be the sporting goods retailer’s 20th store in the state.

The new store opening at Northborough Crossing, in Northborough, Mass., will be the retailer’s 17th in the state.