REAL ESTATE

Global Franchise Group names Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate
Atlanta -- Global Franchise Group, the brand management company and franchisor behind Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery and Hot Dog on a Stick, has hired Andrew Kmiec as VP of Real Estate. Kmiec will be responsible for directing GFG’s real estate team in the areas of strategic site selection, lease negotiation and store design for franchisees and corporate owned locations.
Fayette Mall expansion officially opens
Lexington, Ky. --CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of the expansion at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky. Designed to significantly enhance the offerings at the shopping center, the redevelopment of the former Sears location included expanding the mall entrance to create 115,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for a mix of fashion stores, home furnishings and fine dining options in the heart of the shopping center.

Intersection of Opposites: An inspired approach to shopping center design

By Ahsin Rasheed
Stirling Properties’ Beezie Landry closes on sale of three investment properties

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties’ Beezie Landry, senior sales and leasing executive, closed on the sale of three investment properties, totaling over $15 million. In each of these transactions, Landry represented the Seller. The CVS property on Greenwell Springs Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a 13,824-sq.-ft. building purchased by a private New York- based investor for $4.75 million. 
Coal Vines to open at CityLine mixed-use development

Richardson, Texas -- Commercial real estate firm KDC announced that Coal Vines will join CityLine, the company’s 186-acre mixed-use project in Richardson, Texas. The restaurant is scheduled to open in summer 2015. “The Coal Vines concept is ideal for CityLine and brings an element of fun to State Street and the entertainment district,” said KDC’s Colin Fitzgibbons.
Phillips Edison acquires grocery-anchored center in Calif.

Cincinnati -- Phillips Edison-ARC Grocery Center REIT II Inc. has acquired Laguna 99 Plaza, adding another property in California to the company's portfolio. Laguna 99 Plaza is an 89,188-sq.-ft.grocery store-anchored shopping center located in Elk Grove, California, part of the Sacramento metropolitan statistical area. Laguna 99 Plaza is anchored by Walmart Neighborhood Market. Other national and regional tenants at the center include GNC, Metro PCS, and Goodwill.
Skechers opens 1,000th store; 35 to 40 more locations to open by yearend

Manhattan Beach, Calif. -- Skechers is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th retail store. The company, which operates in more than 75 countries, hit the milestone mark with the opening of a new store in Mexico City on Wednesday, preceded by an additional store opening in Mexico earlier this week and two in California last week.
Sears plans to convert its property in Aventura, Fla., to mixed-use development

Aventura, Fla. -- In another move to capitalize on its extensive real estate portfolio, Sears Holdings Corp. has submitted plans to the City of Aventura in Florida for the redevelopment of the Sears property at Aventura Mall into an open-air village that will feature retail, restaurants, offices and a hotel.
Panera Bread to make debut in Culver City

Los Angeles -- Real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson has negotiated a 10-year retail lease for Panera Bread, the chain’s first location in Culver City, Calif. The 5,100-sq.-ft. property is located at 10990 Jefferson Blvd. within the Studio Village Center.
Publix to co-anchor Steele Creek Crossing

Charlotte, N.C. --Westwood Financial Corp. announced that Publix Super Markets has now opened as the new anchor tenant at Steele Creek Crossing in Charlotte, N.C. This lease marks one of seven Bi-Lo locations Publix has taken over in the Charlotte area.