REAL ESTATE

New York -- Make Meaning is expanding its East Coast presence with the opening of its sixth U.S. location, at Bethesda Row in Bethesda, Maryland, on June 9. Make Meaning has five additional locations nationwide – two in New York City, as well as locations in Dedham, Massachusetts, Thousand Oaks, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona. The company plans to roll out additional locations nationwide and abroad.

I indulged in a shopping center grand opening on May 22 – and I’m glad I did.

Themed “Indulge,” the opening event marked the official unveiling of the nation’s first truly downtown outlet center, Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, located in the heart of New Orleans, and built by West Coast developer Howard Hughes Corp.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods on Tuesday announced grand openings for three new stores.

The company will hold opening celebrations June 6 through June 8 for the following locations: Lawrence, Kansas; Culpepper, Virginia; Arden, North Carolina.

With the openings, Dick’s will operate 570 stores nationwide.

New York -- Starbucks Corp. plans to bring its La Boulange Bakery café chain to Los Angeles, opening a location with extensive food offerings. The eatery is scheduled to open June 11, and will also serve beer, wine, cocktails as well as milkshakes, the Associated Press reported.

Every year, one of my personal highlights is the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) RECon convention in Las Vegas. It’s a chance both to connect with the fascinating leaders in our field, as well as to see a few steps into the future. RECon bills itself at the “global convention for the shopping center industry,” and that label is an accurate one: Over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 32,000 attendees make RECon the largest convention in the industry.

Dallas -- Fast-casual restaurant chain Corner Bakery Café announced two multi-unit development agreements with California-based businessman Anil Yadav, CEO of JIB Management, who plans to open 16 cafes in Seattle, and seven in Las Vegas, over the next seven years.
 

Napa, Calif. – Construction on a new 4,800-sq.-ft. retail space known as Solano Plaza could begin in Napa, California, as early as spring 2015. According to the Napa Valley Register, the single-story building will hold up to four new retailers and face an existing retail plaza.

The site was formerly occupied by a gas station and has been decontaminated. Gerry and Betsy D’Adamo, who have owned the parcel for 40 years, are developing the new plaza, which will include new landscaping and signage.
 

The Woodlands, Texas -- Conn’s, a specialty retailer of home appliances, furniture, mattresses, consumer electronics, announced the opening of its first two Conn’s HomePlus stores in Tennessee.

The HomePlus store format showcases furniture and mattresses in addition to the leading brands and the latest technologies in consumer electronics and home appliances. The stores are at Cross Creek, in Memphis, and at Town & Country Commons, in Knoxville.