REAL ESTATE

Dollar General to open 730 stores and remodel 875 locations in 2015; entering three new markets
Avison Young completes $15 million sale of Brannon Crossing
Atlanta - Avison Young has completed the $15 million sale of Brannon Crossing, an upscale shopping center with 60,780 sq. ft. of leasable space located at 405-435 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. The transaction comes on the heels of the firm’s recent disposition of the 27,057-sq.-ft. Lindbergh Crossing Shopping Center in Atlanta for $7.06 million.

Fresh & Easy testing new store concept

Las Vegas - Fresh & Easy, the former Tesco-owned grocery format, is testing a dramatically new look at seven plus stores in the Las Vegas market. The stores have been remodeled with a more modern feel and layout and a greater emphasis on ready meal solutions, with such features as a “Fresh To Go” hot food bar, a pizza over, a coffee bar and made-to-order sandwiches. A revamped product selection with lower fixtures and a more abundant selection of fresh food.
Brixmor makes strategic leasing hires

New York City - Brixmor Property Group announced the hiring of Chardell Steves and Jerry Teitelbaum as VPs of Strategic Leasing for the West and North regions, respectively. Both seasoned mall leasing professionals, Steves joins Brixmor from General Growth Properties and Teitelbaum joins from Taubman Centers.
Strong Holiday Season Likely for Retailers

By Bruce Schanzer and Jennifer Bitterman
JLL names president of Americas Retail Brokerage Services

Houston - JLL has appointed Naveen Jaggi as president of JLL Americas Retail Brokerage. Jaggi comes to JLL from CBRE, where he was a senior managing director of Retail Services.

In his new role at JLL, Jaggi will oversee more than 100 brokers, spanning 25 major markets, who serve the firm’s 500 retail owner and occupier clients. Jaggi is also tasked with creating deeper integration, collaboration and consistency across the Americas retail platform and globally.
Project Spotlight: Steelpointe Harbor

Bridgeport, Connecticut - A major Northeastern waterfront project has achieved lift-off. Bridgeport Landing Development, a subsidiary of The RCI Group, announced that it has completed the $15-million Phase I infrastructure improvements at its mixed-use Steelpointe Harbor project in Southern Fairfield County Connecticut and it has begun going vertical.
Metropol Instanbul will debut as one of largest mixed-use projects in Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey - Annapolis, Maryland-based architectural firm Roy Higgs International has been retained to design the retail portion of Metropol İstanbul, a global mixed-use project and architectural landmark of Istanbul that is rising within the borders of the Istanbul International Financial Center in Ataşehir.

“Metropol İstanbul will breathe new life into this vibrant city, elevating its architectural significance,” said Elif Ozbay, design manager for Metropol İstanbul.
The Amazon Effect: Retail’s Santa Clause or Grinch?

By Leela Rao-Kataria
Lululemon opens West Coast flagship

New York - Lululemon on Thursday will open a 5,766-sq.-ft. flagship at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif.. The visual centerpiece of the store is an intricately-laid domed mosaic ceiling—in a vibrant blue hue—that reads, "Breath deep & appreciate the moment." The storefront boasts a colorful, two-story, illuminated glass corner.