REAL ESTATE

Ross Dress for Less to open in Alton, Illinois
Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Alton, Illinois, on July 18.

The 24,000-sq.-ft. store is located in Alton Square Mall, 20 miles north of downtown St. Louis.
American Girl says ‘hola’ to Mexico
Middleton, Wis. - American Girl is expanding south of the boarder.

The brand will make its debut in Mexico, opening in-store boutiques in department store El Palacio de Hierro’s locations in Interlomas and Perisur. The in-store shops, ranging in size from 1,500 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft., open July 4.

Mexico marks the second international retail presence for American Girl, which opened its first Canadian store in October 2013.

Michaels coming to Mill Creek Mall in New Jersey

New Rochelle, N.Y. – Welco Realty Inc. has leased 21,500-sq.-ft. of retailer space to Michaels Stores Inc. at The Mill Creek Mall at Harmon Meadow in Secaucus, N.J. Jerry Welkis, a principal of Welco Realty, represented the landlord, Hartz Mountain Industries.

The tenant was represented by Jamie Sackeim of The Dartmouth Company. Other tenants in the center are PetSmart and Marshall’s/Home Goods. Adjacent tenants include Bob’s Furniture, Sports Authority, T.J.Maxx, Toys / Babies R Us, and Kohl’s.
Outlet mall coming to Orange County in October

San Clemente, Calif. – The Outlets at San Clemente announces its grand opening coming in October. The lifestyle center will be designed in the style of a Spanish village and offer up to 70 retailers at opening.
Germany’s discount grocer Lidl lays more tracks for U.S. debut

McLean, Va. – German discount grocer Lidl continues to lay the foundation for its store debut in the United States.

The company which is establishing a U.S. corporate headquarters, in Arlington County, Virginia, announced it will also open a regional headquarters and distribution center facility in Alamance County, North Carolina. The moves are part of Lidl’s early preparations to expand into the U.S. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/german-grocer-lidl-prepares-us-expansion-open-headquarters-virginia
Corner Bakery Café taking off in airports

Dallas - Corner Bakery Cafe has found another route to help it reach its goal of doubling its national footprint in the next two years.

The company, which operates more than 185 company-owned and franchised locations around the country, said it plans to expand in the nation's busiest airports. The chain is basing the plans on success of its Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport location in Atlanta.
Ikea on the move

St. Louis -- Ikea is expanding in the Midwest.

The chain will open a store in St. Louis on Sept. 30. It will be the Swedish company’s first store in Missouri, and 41st in the United States.

The 380,000-sq.-ft. St. Louis Ikea is being built on 21 acres along Interstate-64 at Vandeventer Avenue. It will house Missouri’s largest rooftop solar array, consistent with the Ikea renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.
Bigger is better for this furniture retailer

Warren, Mich. -- At least one retailer is bucking the current smaller store trend by opening its biggest location to date.

Art Van Furniture will open a two-story, 112,000-sq.-ft. store showroom in Downers Grove, Ill., on July 30. It will not only be the largest Art Van Furniture store among the company's 90 Midwest locations, but also and the largest furniture store in Chicagoland.
Another brand is going brick-and-mortar

New York -- Put your dukes up: Everlast Worldwide is going to open physical stores.

Everlast Worldwide, a global leader in the design, manufacturing, licensing and marketing of authentic boxing equipment and apparel, will open its first-ever U.S. stores this summer. The company, whose roots date back to 1910, will open three locations in Florida, at Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines, according to Licensemag.com.
Bass Pro Shops on expansion track

New York -- Bass Pro Shops will soon be fishing for new customers in Florida. The fast-growing chain is on track to open its 10th location, in Tampa Bay.

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