REAL ESTATE

New York -- Another online retailer has made the leap to the physical space.  Beauty subscription company Birchbox has opened its first brick-and-mortar store, in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The two-level store brings the company’s digital experience to life, with a big emphasis on new products, customer reviews and expert advice. It also offers hair, nails and make-up services and group classes on various topics. The first class, taking place the week of July 21, will focus on make-up contouring tricks.
  

When Regency Centers signed Whole Foods Market to anchor its new retail development — Belmont Chase — in Ashburn, Virginia, the developer further elevated an already exciting project.

With a projected summer 2015 opening, the 80,000-sq.-ft. center will include metro-D.C.’s first Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Cava Mezze Grill, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, and PR Fresh Look Salon, among other soon-to-be-announced restaurants and retailers.

Kendall, Fla. -- Berkowitz Development Group announced the signing of a new long-term lease with Einstein Bagels for 2,466 sq. ft. at Kendallgate Shopping Center. The chain will take space within a freestanding retail building alongside AT&T in the Center’s plaza located at 12190 SW 88th Street in Miami.

Einstein Bagels has already begun construction at its new location and expects to open in late August.

Atlanta -- Simon Property Group and Columbus Realty have teamed to inject a high-residential component to Simon’s fashionable Phipps Plaza shopping destination in the tony Buckhead area of Atlanta.

The residential project, to be named Domain at Phipps Plaza, will be developed with Columbus Realty Partners.

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Southeast on July 19th.  The store openings are in The Village on Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Georgia, and Dixie Valley Shopping Center in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky.  These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

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.

Chicago -- RKF has announced three promotions for brokerage professionals in its Chicago office. Lara Keene has been promoted from senior director to managing director. Since joining RKF in May 2012, Keene has advised a variety of retailers including Allen Edmonds, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, Forever 21 and Fig & Olive, and currently works with Bareburger, Piada, Alexis Bittar, IT’Sugar, L’Occitane en Provence, Rent the Runway and Sam Edelman. Most recently, she secured a 3,400-sq.-ft. flagship for Zadig & Voltaire and an 850-sq.-ft.

Cincinnati -- The Streets of West Chester, a 167,638-sq.-ft. lifestyle center near Cincinnati, is kicking off the pre-development leasing and marketing for the second phase of its retail center with a 200,000-sq.-ft. planned expansion slated to open in spring 2016.

The Streets of West Chester expansion will join the opening of the new Bass Pro, beginning construction this summer, adjacent to The Streets, and will provide shoppers with new retail, restaurants and entertainment.

New York -- Smoking Vapor.Phoenix, which manufactures and sells electronic cigarettes, has opened a store in Phoenix, and plans to open four more locations in the coming months, according to a report by Phoenix Business Journal.

The 1,200-sq.-ft. store sells e-cigarettes, e-cigars and related products. Smoking Vapor operates a handful of kiosks in Phoenix-area malls. The kiosks will close as retail locations open.

The e-cigarette industry has grown into a $1.7 billion market, according to Wells Fargo.