REAL ESTATE

Gordon Brothers-Accuval names southeast director
Boston - Conrad Lauten has joined Gordon Brothers-AccuVal, the valuation division of Gordon Brothers Group, as director, business development. Lauten will oversee the group serving Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee and Virginia.
Columbia Sportswear angling for new shoppers
Miami, Fla. -- Columbia Sportswear Company is expanding its new store concept.

The company has opened Performance Fishing Gear (PFG), in Miami’s The Falls. The 5,654 sq.-ft. store features the latest and greatest from the popular collection, along with an interactive knot-tying station and digital design elements.

RPAI names GGP exec as CFO

Oak Brook, Ill. – Retail Properties of America Inc. (RPAI) has named Heath R. Fear as its new CFO and treasurer, effective Aug. 17. Fear will play a key role in the continued execution of the company’s portfolio and balance sheet strategy, in addition to oversight of all of financial activities, including capital markets, accounting, investor relations, internal audit, internal reporting and treasury.
Transwestern represents Mod Pizza

Houston - Transwestern represented Mod Pizza in five leases totaling approximately 13,662 sq. ft. in the Houston market. Grant Walker, VP, and Chris Reyes, broker associate, who serve as exclusive advisors for Mod Pizza in the Houston market, represented the retailer in the transactions.

Mod will be operating more than 100 stores across the U.S. by the end of 2015 and has plans to open more than 30 additional locations in Houston within the next four to five years.

Mod Pizza’s newest Houston locations include:
Stirling Properties completes first Louisiana center

Covington, La. - Stirling Properties has completed its first retail development in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Academy Sports + Outdoors was relocated to a new location, adding an additional 22,000-sq.-ft. to the store. The new 72,000-sq.-ft. store was expanded to meet the demand of the growing Lake Charles community.

All of the land surrounding the larger Academy Sports + Outdoors is currently available for sale or lease.
Irvine expands dining options in Orange County

Irvine, Calif. - Irvine Company Retail Properties is opening new restaurants across its Orange County portfolio in California, including Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center, The Market Place, and several community centers.
West Elm comes to South Carolina

Brooklyn, N.Y. - Home furnishings retailer West Elm will open its first South Carolina retail store in the Charleston on Aug. 13.

The nearly 10,000-sq.-ft. store will open with West Elm’s fall 2015 product assortment, a suite of complimentary design services and feature crafted goods by nine local artists and makers as part of West Elm’s “Local” initiative.

The new store is expected to bring an estimated 25-30 jobs to the Charleston community.
Phillips Edison REIT expands grocery-anchored portfolio

Cincinnati - Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT II Inc. has acquired two grocery-anchored shopping centers, expanding the company's portfolio in Colorado. Meadows on the Parkway is a 216,437-sq.-ft. grocery store-anchored shopping center in Boulder, Colorado, The center is anchored by Safeway and also features national tenants Subway, Regus, Great Clips, Michaels, Anytime Fitness and Fast Signs.
Vestar completes purchase of Nevada center

Las Vegas – Privately held real estate company Vestar has completed a buyout of The District at Green Valley Ranch, in Henderson, Nevada. Vestar paid $120 million to its joint venture partner Rockwood Capital to take full ownership of the 37-acre, 384,107-sq.-ft. landmark retail property minutes from Las Vegas.
Rizzoli opens New York flagship July 27

New York - Rizzoli will open its new flagship bookstore to the public on July 27 in New York City's NoMad district. The 5,000-sq.-ft. space occupies the ground-floor level of the historic St. James Building.