REAL ESTATE

CBL & Associates Properties names new VP IT
Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties, announced the addition of Chris Bursch as VP – Information Technology and will be responsible for all areas of IT.

Bursh has more than 30 years of experience in IT Leadership within the financial services, and most recently, the pharmaceutical industry.

Prior to joining CBL Bursch owned an IT management consulting business and held various leadership positions within information technology in the Chattanooga area.
First Look: Nike, The Grove, Los Angeles
Nike has opened a soaring, one-of-kind flagship to spotlight some of its most innovative merchandise.

The three-level 31,000-sq.-ft. store, at The Grove in Los Angeles, is one of the largest in the company’s portfolio. It features a number of elements designed to celebrate the City of Angles and to serve athletes, starting with a huge “We are LA” mural that spans all three floors and is made up of thousands of icons reflecting Nike’s heritage, local sports teams and California-centric imagery.

Now Trending: Hotel and Multi-Family Residential on the (High) Rise

“Now Trending” is an exclusive online series to chainstoreage.com, featuring trending topics that impact the retail real estate landscape.

At a time when the growing influence of millennials and the ongoing development, redevelopment and revitalization of urban communities continue to shape the commercial development landscape, the changes taking place in the hotel and multi-family sectors reflect many of those same demographic and development trends.
REITs: A Smart Move for Retailers?

A red-hot real estate market and sky-high property values have some retailers, including Macy’s and more recently, McDonalds, feeling the pressure to cash in on the value of their real estate assets. How? By spinning off store properties and/or land assets into a REIT and entering into a lease-back deal.
Sundance expanding its store base

Salt Lake City -- Robert Redford’s Sundance Catalog is growing from its Western roots as it expands its retail footprint.

The company will open a store in Edina, Minnesota, on Thursday, Sept. 17. The opening is one of two locations Sundance will open east of the Rocky Mountains in 2015 as it grows from lits Western home base. The company plans to continue its retail growth over the next several years with additional stores targeted across various locations nationwide.
City Sports on the move

Boston -- Boston-based City Sports has entered a new state.

The specialty store retailer announced the opening a 10,000-sq.-ft. store at Mosaic District, a mixed-use lifestyle center located in Merrifield, Virginia.
Corner Bakery Café expands in Pittsburgh

Dallas -- Corner Bakery Café is expanding in Pennsylvania with the addition of eight stores throughout northern Pittsburgh. A group of franchisees with extensive real estate and retail experience is opening the new stores.

Corner Bakery Café is also targeting southern Pittsburgh for franchise growth. The retailer has more than 190 company-owned and franchise stores currently open, and franchise agreements representing commitments for 398 units.
Off-price retailer remembers 9/11 and city with mural

New York -- The storefront of Century 21 Department Stores’ flagship in lower Manhattan has been given a stunning makeover to honor the city and in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The off-price retailer has partnered once again with internally famous street artist Thierry Guetta (commonly referred to as Mr. Brainwash), who has painted a vibrant mural on a 65-sq.-ft. by 225-sq.-ft. wall on the flagship’s façade. The store is in the financial district and close to where the World Trade Center once stood.
First Look: Bealls’ new store concept, Bunulu

New York -- Department store retailer Bealls Inc. has taken the wraps off its new specialty concept targeted at millennials.

Called Bunulu, the new format made its debut at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida. Two additional locations — at St. Johns Town Center, Jacksonville, Florida, and The Garden Mall, Palm Beach, Florida — are set to open by the end of this year.
H&M’s upscale brand poised for U.S. expansion

New York -- Fast-fashion giant H&M is expanding its upscale store brand, Cos, in the United States.

Cos, known for its minimalist-styled fashions, will open its first store in Boston, on Newbury Street on Sept. 25. The new space, the brand’s third location in the United States, will offer womenswear and menswear collections with 2,960 sq. ft. of sales area, spread across two floors.