REAL ESTATE

New off-pricer making some noise
Louisville, Ky. -- A new off-price outlet concept that opened its first store in November 2014 is expanding.

Retail4LESS announced the opening of two new locations in Kentucky — one in Madisonville, and the second in Franklin — with both due to open in the late fall.

The opening of the two new stores will mark the first new stores for the off-price retailer since the launch of its inaugural location last year, in its home base of Louisville.
ICSC names new CEO
New York -- The International Council of Shopping Centers named a 26-year Deloitte veteran as the fourth individual to lead the global trade association in its 58-year history.

Thomas (Tom) McGee, currently vice chairman, Deloitte LLP, was appointed president and CEO of ICSC, effective Sept. 21. He succeeds current ICSC President and CEO, Michael P. Kercheval who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Build-A-Bear Workshop updating store format, business model

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop continues the transformation of its store experience — and business.

The specialty retailer on Tuesday debuted its updated store design at Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Part of a company-wide brand refresh, the reformatted location was developed to increase productivity and optimize space while updating the brand’s overall brand look. New elements include:

• Sophisticated new logo, store set-up and color palette;
Report: Forever 21 seeks smaller stores, loan

Los Angeles – Forever 21, known for operating some truly large stores, is reportedly rethinking that strategy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the specialty fast-fashion retailer is also in talks to obtain a $150 million load.
Madison Marquette selected to lease Orlando’s Parc Central

Orlando, Fla. -- Madison Marquette announced it has been selected to provide leasing services for Parc Central mixed-use development, located in Orlando, Florida. The development is slated for a first quarter 2016 groundbreaking.

Parc Central will consist of a 29-story high-rise, mixed-use tower featuring 215 luxury residential apartments with rooftop amenities, approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space and a 30,000-sq.-ft. retail floor located above the parking deck.
Futuristic fast-food eatery designed around technology

San Francisco -- The old-fashioned automat has been reborn as the nation’s first fully-automated, high-tech fast-food restaurant.

Eatsa, a start-up restaurant concept, has opened its first location, in downtown San Francisco near the financial district. The format combines two of the city’s biggest interests: healthy eating and innovative technology. And don’t worry about tipping — there is almost no human interaction in the entire Eatsa experience.
Simon mall to install automated retailing system

Miami -- Shoppers at The Falls, in Miami, will be able to pick up personal care and over-the-counter items without ever entering a store.
Lowe’s makes big purchase for big Hawaii store

Mooresville, N.C. – Lowe’s Companies Inc. is making a big purchase that will enable it to build a big store on one of Hawaii’s biggest islands.

The retailer is purchasing an 11-acre property in Kahului, Hawaii for $18.7 million from A&B Properties Inc., a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin.

Lowe’s plans to build a 167,000-sq.-ft. store on the site, located on the island of Maui. The new store will be 16% larger than Lowe’s current store in Kahului, which it leases from a third party.
It's not your typical Williams-Sonoma

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma is spicing up its store format.

The retailer’s new store in Ponce City Market, Atlanta, features a direct pass-through to the latest dining venture by famed chef Jonathan Waxman, with the restaurant outfitted by Williams-Sonoma.
Dick’s Sporting Goods on the move again

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. continues to expand its portfolio.

The retailer plans to open three new stores Sept. 11. Two of the stores will be located in Alabama and one in Arizona.

Dick’s will open its 13th and 14th stores in Alabama at the Shoppe at Legacy Park in Tuscaloosa and Cullman Shopping Center in Cullman, and ninth store in Arizona at Wilmot Plaza in Tucson. Dick’s will have 628 stores across the U.S. with these openings.