REAL ESTATE

New York – J. Crew is reportedly planning to expand into Asia. According to the Wall Street Journal, J. Crew will open two new stores in Hong Kong on May 21.

The Hong Kong stores will be J. Crew’s first Asian stores since it closed its stores in Japan in 2008. In 2012, J. Crew said it planned to open stores in Hong Kong, and the U.K., and opened three U.K. stores in 2013. The retailer plans to open five or six stores in Hong Kong in the next few years, and may also open new stores in Japan.

By Kris Bjorson and Lew Kornberg, Head of Retail Tenant Representation at Jones Lang LaSalle

Gainesville, Fla. — Bass Pro Shops has announced plans for a new store in Gainesville, Florida. Slated to open in 2016, the planned 80,000-sq.-ft. store will anchor Celebration Pointe, a one-million-sq.-ft. mixed-use development that will include retail, restaurants, entertainment, a hotel and residential units. The property lies in the northwest quadrant of Interstate 75 and Archer Road.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Mall operator Taubman, through its preferred vendor, Single Digits, will offer free basic Internet access to all tenants in 20 of the regional and super regional malls it manages across the U.S. Beginning in the summer, a business-class T1 equivalent service will be offered free of charge to tenants leasing space in Taubman-owned and managed properties.

Las Vegas — DeBartolo Development has retained JLL Retail to manage the new Ka Makana Ali’i shopping center in Kapolei, West Oahu, considered the fastest growing area in Hawaii. The $500-million project will span 67 acres of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands at the intersection of the Kapolei and Kualaka’i Parkways. Upon completion Ka Makana Ali’i will be the third largest shopping center in Hawaii.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is recruiting franchisees in Roanoke, Virginia. This month, the retailer signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee Greg Nigro to develop 13 new restaurants throughout Richmond, Virginia.

Milford, Conn. - The Subway restaurant chain is poised to open about 3,000 new locations worldwide this year. Subway currently has more than 41,000 stores in 105 countries worldwide.

"Location, location, location is still the mantra," said John Devine, director of Subway Real Estate. "We continue to provide our customers with convenient locations to enjoy our great menu offerings. At the same time, we continue to offer landlords and developers a proven, stable and trusted tenant for their real estate."

Woodland Hills, Calif. — E-commerce and smartphones are re-shaping brick-and-mortar shopping center industry. In recognition of that trend, NewMark Merrill Cos. has launched BrightStreet Ventures, a technology affiliate focused on developing new technology platforms.