REAL ESTATE

Short Hills, N.J. -- Mulberry has opened a new store at Mall at Short Hills (N.J.), on the upper level near Bloomingdale’s, and will be followed by Robert Graham and Vilebrequin openings this summer.

Robert Graham will make its New Jersey debut this summer in its third freestanding U.S. boutique. And men’s swimwear retailer Vilebrequin makes its New Jersey debut this summer as well.

Newly opened stores recently added to this list include Ermenegildo Zegna, Miu Miu, Prada, Victorinox Swiss Army and
Vineyard Vines. 

Toronto -- Sears Canada said Thursday it will unveil a new, refreshed store concept in four Ontario locations, designed to illustrate the retailer’s renewed commitment to customer service and store experience.

The four stores – in Barrie, Belleville, Newmarket and at the Lime Ridge mall in Hamilton – will open on May 25, and will the first step to the company’s plans to transform the Sears shopping experience in Canada, said Sears.

Seattle -- Retail companies are more able and willing to reinvest in their businesses, as evidenced by sharp increases in 2012 capital expenditure budgets, according to a new white paper released by Colliers International.

New York -- 7-Eleven Inc. said that it plans to add 630 new stores in the United States and Canada by yearend. In 2011, the chain added some 600 locations, with the stores either built, acquired or transitioned from another business to the 7-Eleven banner

Minneapolis — Target will open a single-level store in New Mexico, the first of its kind in the state. The store, located in Albuquerque, is scheduled to open in 2013 and will occupy 155,000 sq. ft.

Las Vegas -- Jersey Gardens, the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, is getting a makeover and a new brand identity. The 1.5 million-sq.-ft. center, in Elizabeth, N.J., will be rebranded The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens as part of a new strategy by developer Glimcher Realty Trust to introduce a new brand designation for its outlet centers going forward.

Las Vegas -- On Monday morning, RECon 2012, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual retail real estate convention in Las Vegas, kicks off with an expected 31,000+ attendees from around the globe.

Running through Wednesday, May 23, RECon will encompass three halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center – or over 1 million sq. ft. – with more than 1,000 companies exhibiting and highlights such as The Cities of the World Pavilion and a keynote presentation by Leslie H. Wexner, founder of Limited Brands.
 

Lake Success, N.Y. -- Excess Space Retail Services said it is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. The real estate consulting and advisory firm, which specializes in surplus real estate disposition and lease restructuring for retailers, was founded by president and CEO Michael Wiener in May 1992 and currently has offices in Lake Success, N.Y., and Huntington Beach, Calif.

Highlights of its 20 years in the industry include more than 16,000 retail stores successfully disposed and more than 7,000 retail leases effectively restructured.