REAL ESTATE

A city with a booming population, one of the nation’s lowest unemployment figures, and an expanding presence on the national and international stage, Houston, Texas is on this rise. Already the fourth largest city in America, Houston has been recognized in recent years as a social and economic powerhouse that deserves to be considered alongside iconic cities like New York and Chicago. Unsurprisingly, Houston’s retail development growth has been a big part of its ascendance.

Plano, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company will open its first-ever store in Brooklyn, further increasing its New York City footprint, on Aug. 29. The all-new 124,000-sq.-ft., single-level store, located in Gateway Center, will provide a look at Penney's updated store model, which includes a new footwear format.  

As an article that appeared recently right here in Chain Store Age noted, there is something interesting going on with back-to-school shopping this year.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack is opening 23 new interactive remodel stores in the Washington, D.C., metro area. RadioShack began remodeling and opening highly experiential concept stores across the country in July 2013, and has refreshed its more than 4,000 U.S. company-owned stores.

Locally remodeled stores feature RadioShack's new Fix It Here service, a mobile device repair program that typically delivers same-day repair for mobile devices. Technicians will diagnose and repair the device at an in-store kiosk, often in as little as an hour.

Frankfurt, Germany – Germany-based airport management services provide the Fraport Group has expanded its international portfolio in the global airport market by acquiring 100% of U.S.-based AMU Holdings Inc., which owns Airmall USA Holdings Inc. Airmall markets space at the aviation hubs of Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Irvine, Calif. -- Whole Foods Market and the Irvine Company announced that the companies have signed a lease to bring the first Whole Foods Market to Irvine, California.

The organic and natural grocer will occupy approximately 40,000 sq. ft. at Los Olivos Marketplace, a specialty shopping center just off the 405 freeway at Irvine Center Drive in Irvine Spectrum.