REAL ESTATE

In the Works: Four new retail concepts
New York -- New concepts remain the lifeblood of retail. Here are four currently in the works:

1. Ice hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer Hockey is throwing its puck in the retail arena. The company will open its first-ever store this summer, in the Boston suburb of Burlington, Massachusetts, followed by a second location in the fall, in the Minneapolis area.
Five Below entering Alabama; to open total of 70 stores in 2015
Philadelphia -- Tween and teen retailer Five Below will open three stores in Alabama, its first ever in the state, on March 13.

The stores, which average 7,500 sq.-ft. each, are located in Huntsville, Florence and Gadsden.

"Entering Alabama is an important next step as we continue to grow our footprint across the country," said Joel Anderson, CEO of Five Below. "We're excited to open the first of what we hope to be many stores in this great state.”

Nordstrom to debut second full-line store in Connecticut

Seattle -- Nordstrom will open a full-line store in the new regional shopping center being developed by General Growth Properties in Norwalk, Connecticut.

The three-level, 150,000-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2018 and will be the company's second full-line store in the state. The company opened its first Nordstrom in Connecticut in 1997 near Hartford at Westfarms Mall in Farmington.
Food Lion to remodel Raleigh stores

Salisbury, N.C. – Food Lion will remodel its Raleigh, North Carolina market stores in 2015. The Raleigh market remodels are expected to be completed in stores on a rolling basis between April and October 2015.

Food Lion will continue to launch enhancements for customers across all of its 1,100 stores in 2015, as well as remodels in markets over time. Raleigh is the third market to receive the store remodels. Seventy-six stores in the greater Wilmington and Greenville, North Carolina markets were remodeled in 2014.
Report: GameStop bids $2.4 million on 163 RadioShack leases

Fort Worth, Texas – Video game retailer GameStop Corp. has reportedly bid on the leases of 163 stores that bankrupt consumer electronic chain RadioShack Corp. is abandoning as of March 1. According to Reuters, GameStop’s total bid equaled about $2.44 million, or $15,000 per lease.
Newk’s Eatery enters San Antonio, plans 30 new stores

Jackson, Miss. – Newk’s Eatery is entering the San Antonio, Texas area as part of a broader expansion plan that includes 30 new franchise and corporate stores in 2015. The fast-casual dining chain has signed a franchise agreement with Stephen Kuehler, who will lead the chain's expansion into the San Antonio area.
Loblaw to open 50 stores, renovate 100 units

Brampton, Canada -- Loblaw Companies Ltd., Canada’s largest supermarket chain, will open 50 new stores and renovate 100 existing stores in 2015 as part of a $1.2 billion investment in its business.

The investment also e-commerce expansion, and supply chain and IT infrastructure.
Grand Bazaar Shops is Las Vegas' newest retail destination

Las Vegas -- The Las Vegas Strip has a brand new retail attraction: Grand Bazaar Shops. The two-acre, open-air center is located adjacent to Bally’s Las Vegas.
Dollar General expands footprint with entry into three new states

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General isn’t letting its failed bid for rival Family Dollar slow its momentum. On Saturday, Dollar General announced it is entering three new states: Oregon, Maine and Rhode Island. The expansion will give it stores in a total of 43 states nationwide.

Dollar General already operates more than 11,700 stores, but entry into the three new states gives it more greenfield expansion opportunities to pursue while Dollar Tree is busy integrating the recently acquired Family Dollar chain.
Retailers in expansion mode

New York -- Retailers making headlines with store expansion plans for 2015 include a mix of global players as well as some familiar national brands. Here’s an update:

• Famed British toy retailer Hamleys is coming across the pond. The 225-year old company is looking at a multiple store roll-out throughout the United States. Hamleys, which has 49 stores across 17 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, is most famous for its seven-story location on Regent Street in London.