REAL ESTATE

Los Angeles -- BH Properties, a Los Angeles-based firm that specializes in acquiring and repositioning challenged or distressed commercial real estate properties, has announced the promotion of Steven Jaffe to chief investment officer and principal of the firm. In this role, Jaffe is responsible for overseeing the acquisition and disposition strategy of the company as well as the company’s overall growth.

Jaffe has been with BH Properties for 11 years, previously holding the title of executive VP and general counsel.

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Houston area on March 7.

The stores are located in the Center at Pearland Parkway in East Pearland, 15 miles from downtown Houston; and Ravenwood Village Shopping Center in Huntsville. With these new locations, Ross will operate 170 stores in Texas, its second largest state.

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
 

Millbury, Mass. -- Douglas Wine & Spirits, Visionworks and DSW are opening in early 2015 at The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, in Millbury, Massachusetts.
 
Douglas Wine & Spirits opened February 1st and occupies a 5,400-sq.-ft. space between Sleepy’s and Guitar Center. Visionworks will be in opening in March in a 2,700-sq.-ft. space between Sephora and Feng Asian Bistro.

DSW will be making its appearance in early April in a 15,000-sq.-ft. space adjacent to Marshall’s.

Arlington, Texas -- Red Wing Shoes will open a 1,500-sq.-ft. store at Arbrook Square Shopping Center in Arlington, Texas. The center is located at the southeast corner of Arbrook Boulevard and Matlock Road.

Cynthia Bailey of WindStar Properties represented the landlord, Arbrook Square Investors, L.P. The tenant was represented by Cameron Haddad of NAI Robert Lynn Company.
 

New York -- Customer analytics is a key component to retail success; CSA talked with Buxton's Bill Stinneford at NRF's Big Show in New York City about tech trends and the importance of understanding exactly who your customer is.  

Watch video here.

San Jose, Calif. -- Orchard Supply Hardware announced it has opened three new stores, including a location in Portland, Oregon, and two in California (Irvine, and Cerritos).

In addition to the 300 jobs these new stores have created, the retailer plans to hire an additional 1,000 associates as it prepares for the busy spring season, and to support its continuing growth.
 

New York -- Academy Sports + Outdoors will celebrate the simultaneous opening of four stores in the Orlando, Florida, area in March.

The new stores will be located in Kissimmee, Waterford, Lake Mary and Melbourne and will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on March 6. The openings mark the Katy, Texas-based company’s furthest expansion eastward to date.

The $4 billion sporting goods retailer has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Orlando City Soccer Club beginning with the team's inaugural 2015 season.  

Minneapolis — Target Corp. is opening 15 stores this year, with an emphasis on its smaller-sized TargetExpress format as it looks to further reach guests in urban centers. The discounter will open eight TargetExpress locations, one CityTarget and six general merchandise stores.

Target stated that its strategic store growth is focused on reaching guests in urban centers with new formats like TargetExpress and CityTarget, while also offering new experiences, merchandising layouts and innovations in its general merchandise stores.