REAL ESTATE

San Diego -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Phil Sambazis senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in San Diego. Sambazis joined Marcus & Millichap in March 2006 and specializes in the acquisition and disposition of retail shopping centers and net-leased investments.

Marcus & Millichap has also named Kevin W. Boeve senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Ontario. Boeve joined Marcus & Millichap in June 1999.

Westchester, Ill. -- Charles Sparks + Co. announced the debut of its design for the new Neiman Marcus store in Walnut Creek, Calif. The 85,000-sq.-ft., three-level location represents a fresh new vision of modern luxury in a smaller format store for the luxury department store retailer.

New York -- Robert Graham announced that it has signed a lease agreement to open a store in The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J. The store will carry the complete range of Robert Graham-branded merchandise, including men's sportswear, premium denim, tailored clothing, furnishings, accessories, outerwear, and women's sportswear.

The Robert Graham store will open this summer.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced three new hires in brokerage, marketing and research.

Scott Poehler, Alexandra Hilker and Kyle West have joined the SRS teams in Newport Beach, Calif.; Denver, and Orlando, Fla.

Scott Poehler has joined SRS as an associate in the Newport Beach office, coming to SRS from Keller Williams Realty.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. will open 13 newly remodeled locations in the Houston area on March 28.

The updates stores feature more colorful signage and easy-to-navigate floor plans. The stores were redesigned based on customer feedback and shopping patterns.

Office Depot operates 1,677 stores in 60 countries, 46 of which are located in the Houston area.

New York – The fast-growing Francesca’s Holdings Corp. plans to open 76 stores in 2012.

The Houston-based women’s apparel and accessories retailer, which targets young women, has opened 21 new stores so far in 2012, with plans to open 55 additional locations by year-end.

Currently, Francesca’s operates 304 locations nationwide.

New York -- Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th announced that it plans to reopen its Nashville, Tenn., store on March 29.

Located next to the Grand Ole Opry House, the approximate 27,500-sq.-ft. store will be located in the Opry Mills Shopping Center. Operated by Simon Malls, upon completion, the center will be the largest shopping outlet in Tennessee, with over 200 stores, multiple restaurants and an in-house movie theater.

The reopening marks Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th’s return to Opry Mills after it was closed by floods in May 2010.

New Orleans -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced that urban shopping center development Mid-City Market has broken ground in New Orleans, along the North Carrollton Avenue commercial corridor.
 
Opening in early 2013, Mid-City Market will complement the proposed Lafitte Greenway pedestrian and bicycle pathway that will border the shopping center.