REAL ESTATE

Westwood Financial appoints 20-year veteran as CFO
Los Angeles -- Westwood Financial Corp. appointed Jeanne Lazar as CFO. Lazar joins the company with more than 20 years of diverse commercial real estate finance experience. As CFO, Lazar will oversee all finance and accounting functions, including portfolio performance review and the development of financial and operational strategies.

“I’m honored to join Westwood Financial Corp. and look forward to working with the team to further the company’s goals to grow and expand in the grocery-anchored retail space,” said Lazar.
Now Trending: Closing Time
“Now Trending” is an exclusive online series to chainstoreage.com, featuring trending topics that impact the retail real estate landscape.

When Walmart announced in January that it planned to close 269 stores this year (154 locations in the U.S.), there was a good deal of chatter out there comparing the planned closures to a Macy’s announcement just over a week earlier revealing the upcoming closure of 40 stores and a restructuring plan that would eliminate more than 4,500 jobs.

Rural lifestyle retailer on fast track for expansion

Tractor Supply Company continues its rapid expansion, with the grand opening of its 1,500th store, on Feb. 13, in Odessa, Texas.

The retailer opened a total of 114 stores in 2015, and expects to open between 115 and 120 locations in 2016. Tractor Supply stores are located primarily in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and in rural communities.
Saks Off 5th adds a little Gilt to its first NYC store

Sak Off 5th's first location in New York City will feature a pop-up shop that appeals to the retailer's target market.

Saks announced that Gilt will open its first ever in-store shop at the Saks Off 5th store in New York. The pairing of these two brands in a physical space marks Gilt's entry into brick-and-mortar retail and demonstrates the company's plans to bring an all-channel shopping experience to Gilt customers.
Mid-America Real Estate arranges five leases totaling over 23,000 sq. ft.

Minneapolis -- Mid-America Real Estate announced five new retail leases recently signed on behalf of retailers. Mid-America Tenant Representation team represented the tenants in the following transactions, listed below in order of transaction size.

St. Louis Park, Minnesota (Hennepin County) – J. Crew Factory signed a 6,500 sq. ft. lease at Shoppes at Knollwood located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The 456,554-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Kohl’s and Nordstrom Rack.
CBL announces new to portfolio retailer and newly created position

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced plans to add home retailer West Elm at Friendly Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, as part of a 12,700-sq.-ft. expansion project for the center. West Elm will occupy approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of the total expansion, which also includes Pieology Pizzeria and an additional soon-to-be-named retailer.

The new development will be located between Anthropologie and Whole Foods. Construction on the space is currently underway, and both West Elm and Pieology are scheduled to open fall 2016.
RCS real estate advisors retained by Hancock Fabrics

New York -- RCS Real Estate Advisors announced it has been retained by Hancock Fabrics, debtor-in-possession, to generate value for the estate through the sale of leases. RCS Real Estate Advisors senior VP Spence J. Mehl made the announcement.
Fast-growing Lululemon rival to open its first NYC store

Yogasmoga, the made-in-America, Yoga-inspired athletic apparel retailer, is coming home.

The company, which is based in New York City, will open its first Big Apple location this spring. The store, in the NoHo section of downtown Manhattan, marks a continued commitment to expansion for the eco-conscious brand, which opened 10 stores in 2015.
Gaining New Ground

In the face of an increasingly complex retail real estate investment environment, and a world where constantly evolving technology enables us to be connected 24/7 with both current and potential partners, as well as have access to real-time market and property data and analytics at our fingertips, retailers and commercial real estate professionals are being increasingly challenged to be more nimble, flexible and connected than ever before — and to find new ways to maximize efficiency and productivity in the non-stop deal-making environment.
Winick Realty leases first New York location for famed Italian panini shop

Winick Realty Group announced Antico Noe, the Florence-based panini shop is bringing its one-of-a-kind sandwiches to New York City. The new store will be 1,600 sq. ft. will operate at 220 East 53rd Street, New York, New York. Located between Second and Third Avenues in Midtown East, the storefront provides Antico Noe exposure to a large daytime population.