REAL ESTATE

An exterior with real sparkle
Maryland-based specialty retailer Smyth Jewelers and jewelry designer Uneek Fine Jewelry have installed the world’s largest engagement ring outside Smyth’s store in Timonium, Maryland.

The ring stands 17 ft. tall and measures 14 ft. wide. It is modeled after a Uneek Jewelry design and took over a year to fabricate and install. (To see a video, click here.)
Stark Enterprises announces retail property acquisition
Pickerington, Ohio -- Stark Enterprises acquires The Shoppes at Stonecreek in Pickerington, Ohio. The 45,000-sq.-ft. retail center is located east of Columbus and is currently 100% occupied. Featured tenants include Lifetime Fitness, Petland, Advanced Vapor, Lomonico’s and Roosters.

“This acquisition further expands our footprint outside of Northeast Ohio and is a prime opportunity for us to prove the transformational impact we have on our properties,” said Ezra Stark, COO for Stark Enterprises.

Rooms to Go to open massive furniture complex in North Carolina

Rooms to Go is cutting the ribbon this weekend on the largest retail furniture store in the Southeastern United States.

The Florida-based retailer will open a Rooms to Go Super Center and Distribution Center on Oct. 17 in Dunn, North Carolina. The newly built facility comprises approximately 1,450,000 sq. ft. on 120 acres and houses a state of the art Rooms to Go showroom, a Rooms to Go Kids/Teens showroom, a Rooms to Go Outlet Center and a huge distribution center housing tens of thousands of pieces of furniture.
Food Lion completes major store revamp initiative

Food Lion has rolled out its “Easy Fresh and Affordable” branding campaign to its 162 stores in the Raleigh, North Carolina market. The $250 million initiative included full store remodels, price investments and training of associates.
Things are looking up for Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is in the middle of a profound revitalization, one that is bringing new energy to a sprawling area that had long been written off as a cultural wasteland — and ghost town after 5 p.m. New residential construction has brought an influx of new residents into the area, with retailers and restaurants rushing in to meet the new demands.
Macerich's Vita At Tysons Corner Center receives 2015 Award for Excellence

McLean, Va. -- Macerich announced that VITA, the new, luxury 30-story residential tower at the mixed-use urban expansion for Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia, has received the 2015 Award for Excellence from Delta Associates.
Ikea seeks building permit

Ikea wants to open a second store in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The company is submitting plans to the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, for a 293,000-sq.-ft. store. It would be the Swedish company’s fourth location In Texas.

Pending approvals, construction of Ikea Grand Prairie could begin summer 2016, with an opening in fall 2017.
Dollar Tree takes Deals in new direction

The Deals stores Dollar Tree acquired nearly a decade ago never turned into a meaningful growth vehicle for the company and soon the banner will disappear.

Dollar Tree said of the 222 Deals stores it operates, 217 will be converted to Dollar Tree stores and five others will become Family Dollar stores. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar earlier this year giving it a network of nearly 14,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Creative anchor joins Union Market District

Washington, D.C. -- EDENS announced Huge, a full-service digital and design firm headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with offices worldwide, will open a new office at Union Market in Washington, D.C. Union Market is a 45-acre district that is planned for over 7 million sq. ft. of space.
Great Gatherings expands presence in the D.C. Metro area

Detroit -- X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors, announced that partner, Stokas Bieri Real Estate has negotiated two 10-year leases for Great Gatherings in Virginia and Maryland.