REAL ESTATE

San Francisco -- Continuing its global expansion, Gap announced a franchise agreement to introduce its namesake Gap brand in South America. The first Gap store is expected to open in Santiago, Chile, in the Parque Arauco mall, in September 2011.

Gap has signed a franchise agreement with Komax, for exclusive rights to operate Gap brand stores in Chile. Komax will purchase merchandise from Gap and must adhere to the company’s quality standards.

Hammond, La. -- Hammond, La.-based Stirling Properties, the developer of Hammond Square, has announced that The Children’s Place will open a store at Hammond Square, the company’s power-lifestyle shopping center.

The Children’s Place will occupy 4,290 sq. ft. on Main Street across from Encore Shoe Department. The new store is slated to open early spring 2011.

Miami -- Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that The Sports Authority, HomeGoods and a selection of retail shops and restaurants are opening and coming soon to The Shops at Midtown Miami, a 645,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use retail, dining and residential center.

The Sports Authority plans to open a 34,544-sq.-ft. store in 2011. HomeGoods opened a 25,351-sq.-ft. location in late fall 2010.

Webster, Texas -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Ashley Furniture has opened a 45,000-sq.-ft. store at Baybrook Gateway, located in Webster, Texas.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Baybrook Gateway.
 

Columbus, Ind.  -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group announced that Panera Bread has opened a 4,100-sq.-ft. location at Columbus Center, in Columbus, Ind.

Centro Properties Group is the owner of Columbus Center.

Seattle -- Nordstrom plans to open a  Nordstrom Rack in Orange, Calif. The 35,000-sq.-ft. store will be located at The Block at Orange and is expected to open in spring 2012.

"We are very excited to move forward with our new store at The Block at Orange," said Geevy Thomas, president of Nordstrom Rack "This is one of the area's top shopping destinations and a terrific opportunity for us to better serve our loyal OC customers."

Tampa, Fla. -- RMC Property Group announced that it has added tenant representation to its scope of services that currently includes leasing and management, brokerage, owner and developer.

“In many ways, we have been practicing tenant representation for years, assisting our clients in backfilling empty boxes or securing new retail locations for tenants,” said Susie Rice, president of RMC Property Group.

To launch the new division, RMC Property Group has added real estate broker David Gibson.

Madison, Miss. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of Phase I of The Forum at Grandview, a community center development in Madison, Miss.

The 110,000-sq.-ft. Phase I opened 100% leased with anchors Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Stein Mart. The new stores join the existing anchors Miskelly Furniture and Malco Grandview Theater.

The Forum at Grandview is a joint venture of CBL and The Mattiace Co.