REAL ESTATE

Woodland Hills, Calif. — NewMark Merrill Companies has announced that Heather Danko and Danielle Bovard have received the Certified Marketing Director designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The CMD designation is awarded for expertise in multiple disciplines including marketing management, research, marketing plan implementation, public and community relations, advertising, and media buying.

Westminster, Colo. — The Westminster Economic Development Authority and the city of Westminster, Colorado, have entered into an agreement with OliverMcMillan to redevelop the 105-acre site of the former Westminster Mall.

Niagara Falls, N.Y. — Macerich has announced plans to renovate and expand Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA. The project will add nearly 175,000 sq. ft. of retail and bring in 50 new tenants. With approximately 700,000 sq. ft. of top designer brand retailers, the expanded center will be one of the largest outlet malls in the country.

New retailers will include Disney, Forever 21, Helly Hansen, Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden, Swarovski, the Limited, White House|Black Market and others. To date, 77% of the expansion has been leased.

Boston -- Gordon Brothers Group and Hilco Merchant Resources have, effective May 8, launched the total liquidation of Coldwater Creek brick-and-mortar stores and its website.

The joint-venture team is conducting closing sales at all Coldwater Creek stores and online, offering 30% to 50% off all items.

New York -- There are more store closings in Sears’ future. In an address at Sears Holding Corp.’s annual shareholders meeting, chairman and CEO Edward Lampert said the company would close stores and look for ways to leverage its real estate as it continues to focus on integrated omnichannel retail and its Shop Your Way rewards program.

"Closing stores is going to be part of our future," Lampert said. "I'd rather do (fewer closures) rather than more, but the world has shifted."

Lyndhurst, N.J. -- Citizen Watch Company, a leader in the mid-priced watch segment, will will a global flagship store in Times Square, New York, on Broadway in November. This will be the first Citizen Watch global retail concept store in North America.

The store will measure more than 1,300 sq. ft. and offer the full Citizen product assortment. Citizen has hired New York based architectural firm Mapos LLC.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. reportedly plans to open about 300 new stores on college and university campuses in the next five years. According to Reuters, Barnes & Noble wants to expand its college bookstore footprint from the current 696 locations to 1,000.

Albuquerque, N.M. -- Consumers can shop for clothes categorized by astrological signs at the newly launched Fashionsofthezodiac.com, described as the world's first online store to organize its clothing and accessories by the 12 signs of the zodiac. The company expects to open a store early next year, in Denver.