REAL ESTATE

General Growth clarifies comments about Amazon’s store expansion plans
The CEO of General Growth Properties caused a firestorm late Tuesday when he made a passing reference during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call that Amazon was planning to open 300 to 400 bookstores. On Wednesday, the mall giant issued a very short statement that poured water on the fire.

“General Growth Properties CEO Sandeep Mathrani has indicated that a statement he made concerning Amazon during GGP's earnings conference call held on February 2, 2016, was not intended to represent Amazon's plans.”
First Look: CVS Pharmacy in Target
The conversion of Target’s in-store pharmacies and health clinics to CVS Pharmacy and Minute Clinic has begun.

The first of the new store-within-a-store concept showcasing the CVS Health and Target partnership went live Wednesday morning in the Charlotte, North Carolina, market.

Teams from Target and CVS Health will spend the next six to eight months converting all of Target’s 1,672 pharmacies and 79 clinics nationwide to CVS Pharmacy and Minute Clinic locations.

Brixmor Property Group signs grocery-anchor at Highridge Plaza

Yonkers, N.Y. -- Brixmor Property Group announced it has strengthened its tenant offering at Highridge Plaza in Yonkers, New York, with the addition of Hmart, an Asian-American supermarket chain. Hmart is scheduled to open a 41,764-sq.-ft. store in fourth quarter 2016.
CVS Health opens first pharmacy within Target in North Carolina

The first of the pharmacy-within-a-store concepts showcasing the CVS Health and Target partnership went live Wednesday morning in the Charlotte, North Carolina, market. CVS Pharmacy and Target executives participated in a grand opening celebration at the Target store on Weddington Road in Wesley Chapel
Westfield unveils new customer journey at LAX Terminal 2

Los Angeles -- Westfield invested $78.3 million into LAX terminal 2 in Los Angeles, transforming nearly 76,000 sq. ft., including more than 15,000 sq. ft. of new dining and retail at Los Angeles International Airport. According to Westfield, the upgrade brings together a vibrant design, local restaurants and signature retail, creating a more holistic customer journey.
Restaurant chain to stay in the fast lane with expansion

Newk’s Eatery is on track with its plans to double in size in the next three years.

The Jackson, Mississippi-based fast-casual chain entered six new markets and increased its store count by 27% in 2015, opening 20 new locations. It currently operates 96 eateries in 13 states.
Inland names executive VP and head of property management

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Inland Investment Real Estate Services hires Niall J. Byrne as executive VP and head of property management. Byrne will be responsible for IIRES’s property management for Inland Investments, Inland National Development Corporation and Inland Institutional Capital Partners.
Publix looks north as it enters its seventh state

Publix Super Markets has signed leases to open its first-ever stores in the state of Virginia.
TV’s long-running cartoon family to get their very own branded stores

Springfield may be home to the “The Simpsons.” But it won’t be home to the first-ever retail store dedicated to the long-running (27 years) television cartoon series.

20th Century Fox has announced that the world's first Simpsons store will open in Beijing, China, in March, followed by a second location, in Shanghai, by June.
dd’s Discounts up store count in Texas, Arizona

dd’s Discounts, a division of Ross Stores, Inc. will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. store at Parkshire Center in Wilcrest, Texas on Feb. 6. The location is 14 miles southwest of downtown Houston, at the intersection of Highway 59 and Wilcrest Drive.

The new store ups dd’s store count in Texas to 37 locations, making it the retailer’s second largest state. With the new opening, the chain will operate 175 locations in 15 states.