REAL ESTATE

New York City -- New Balance has opened its first North American Experience Store, in New York City's Flatiron District. The approximate 4,000-sq.-ft. space is designed to reflect the heritage and spirit of the century-old brand.

Johannesburg -- Massmart Holdings Ltd., the South African retailer controlled by Wal-Mart Stores, announced Thursday it will up its store counts in fiscal 2012 by 8.6% to 340 stores. The company will open 27 new stores during the period, mostly in South Africa and two in Nigeria.CEO Grant Pattison said the accelerated pace is to keep the company in front of its competitors.

Also on Thursday, Massmart reported an 11.6% rise in total sales for the year ended June 26 to $7.29 billion, and upped its forecast for the remainder of 2011.

New York City -- Walgreens has renewed its lease on the ground floor of the Empire State Building, and exchanged 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the concourse level to 10,000 sq. ft. on the second floor near the observatory exit elevators, according to a report published by REBusiness Online Thursday.

"The all-glass second-floor store is slated for a first quarter 2012 completion," the report stated. Walgreens’ lease in the Empire State Building is for a 15-year term and totals 18,818 sq. ft.

 

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties,  announced a 6,000-sq.-ft. expansion to The Shoppes at Hamilton Place, a 125,000-sq.-ft. associated center in Chattanooga with existing anchors Ross dress for Less, Marshalls, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The expansion will locate in the undeveloped parcel in front of the center and will bring new retailers and restaurants to the area including Sweet Peppers Deli, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, and Bath Junkie.   

Charlotte, N.C. -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors, said that Charlotte, N.C.-based partner The Chambers Group has completed a lease for the first small-format Burlington Coat Factory store in Charlotte.

Scheduled to open Oct. 1 at Woodlawn Marketplace, the smaller format store will be roughly 48,000 sq. ft. and joins T.J. Maxx and Family Dollar.
 

New York City -- RCS Real Estate Advisors announced that Moe Puri has been promoted to VP from assistant VP.

A member of the RCS Real Estate Advisors team since 2008, Puri’s primary responsibilities included re-negotiating leases on behalf of clients. He has since elevated his expertise and, as a VP, is managing several key client real estate portfolios.

Leesburg, Va. -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities and Kettler announced that luxury bowling alley and sports grill King Pinz has opened a 6,200-sq.-ft. expansion to its facility at Village at Leesburg, in Leesburg, Va.

The addition features a six-lane luxury bowling suite, plus High Rollers Lounge, a fully enclosed cigar bar and cocktail lounge.

With now 21,564 total sq. ft., King Pinz’ additional space increases the number of bowling lanes to 18.

Boynton Beach, Fla. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers announced the addition of Publix Super Market as the new anchor of Boynton Lakes Plaza, a 117,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood center in Boynton Beach, Fla. 

Publix is relocating from an undersized 39,000-sq.-ft. store in a nearby center to open a new prototype of 45,600 sq. ft. in late summer 2012.   

The store will occupy a former Winn-Dixie site that was closed along with 29 other locations in July 2010.