Real Estate:
Calhoun Enterprises committed to build 10 stores by 2016 in AL and TN

Brown’s Super Stores committed to build one store and expand one store by 2016 in Philadelphia, PA.

Kum & Goannounced a major economic investment in Central AR. He said the company will be investing $70 million to $80 million in the next five years and creating approximately 150 new jobs by the end of 2012. Within the next five years, Kum & Go will have 20 to 25 stores in Central AR. Kum & Go plans to break ground in August and September 2011 on three new Central Arkansas stores, in North Little Rock, Little Rockand Cabot. Kum & Go anticipates having its first grand-opening event in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Real Estate:
Marvin’s is building a store in Eufaula, Ala.— the 27th store for the home center chain, and the second new store in 2011.
The company opened its 26th store in Monroeville, Ala., earlier this year.
Construction will begin soon at the site on highway 431 in Eufaula, where the company hopes to open a 34,000-sq.-ft. store in early October, or sooner. The site is a former Walmart.
Menards plans to open a new location in Miami Township, Ohio, on Springboro Pike.  The store will take the place of an existing plaza, the Lyons Crossing shopping center, which will be demolished to make room for the approximately $9 million project.
Menards has received final approval in Howard, Wis., outside of Green Bay, in a controversial deal that included $1.6 million in tax incentives to construct a 162,340-sq.-ft. location.  A divided Village Board voted 5 to 4 on June 27 to give the Midwestern home improvement chain $1.6 million in tax reimbursements over 15 years, provided the property remains valued at more than $8.7 million (its current estimated value) for the duration of that period.  The incentive package will not come directly from the village coffers. Instead, the village will pay 80% of Menards’ annual real estate taxes generated under “increased taxes resulting from development” assessment.  The store will be built on 18.7 acres near U.S. 41. The main building will include 94,432 sq. ft. of retail space, 64,157 sq. ft. of warehouse and 3,751 sq. ft. for offices. There also will be a separate 42,352-sq.-ft. lumber warehouse. The development will include 428 parking spaces.
Real Estate:
Blockbuster Video, under the guise of its new owner, plans to keep 1,500 locations open, closing just 200 stores that it acquired the bankrupt company out of bankruptcy earlier this year.
Five Below made its Michigan debut, opening five stores in the Detroitmetro area.  Detroit is seen as a pivotal market as it helps bridge the company’s presence in Cleveland and Chicago.  The company entered the Chicago market earlier this summer.. The company sees a potential for developing this market to include as many as 25 stores over the next two to three years.
Meijer announced that it is opening a new concept store in the Chicago suburb of Melrose parkthat will provide a tailored grocery offering and a broad variety of general merchandise.  Called Meijer Marketplace, the new store will be 96,000 sq. ft., about half the size of Meijer’s largest supercenters. 
Meijer Marketplace is aimed at a more diverse group of customers. Meijer Marketplace grocery offerings will include a focus on Hispanic and Italian foods to better serve the ethnically-diverse community nearby.  
In addition to grocery, Meijer marketplace will offer a full-service pharmacy.  The store will maintain a flexible layout that allows Meijer planners to bring in new items based on customer
feedback.
Chicago has become a hotbed for retail activity, with Walmart breaking ground on the first of its Chicago-area stores and CityTarget opening recently at the Sullivan center. Though Meijer should expect some competition from Walmart and Target, its location of Meijer Marketplace in Melrose Park is far enough away from each retailer that it can cement its place as the go-to destination in that community.
Microsoft hopes to open 75 freestanding Microsoft stores within the next two to three years.
Walmart announced its official presence in Chicagowith the news that it has begun work on a new supercenter in Chatham. According to the company, the store will give more options to residents of Chicago‘s South Side neighborhood while at the same time creating approximately 400 jobs. The store, one of nine new locations now planned in the city, is scheduled to open in spring of 2012.
In June 2010, Walmart announced the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership,” a five-year plan to open several dozen stores, create approximately 10,000 jobs and 2,000 unionized construction jobs, generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes and develop charitable partnerships worth $20 million.
Walmart’s plans in the city include the following projects:
  • Supercenter in Pullman at 111th St. and South Doty Ave. (spring 2013)
  • Supercenter in West Chatham at 83rd St. and Stewart Ave. (spring 2012)
  • Walmart Market in the West Loop at West Monroe St. and South Jefferson St. (fall 2011)
  • Walmart Market in West Englewood at West 76th St. and South Ashland Ave. (spring 2012)
  • Walmart Market in Lake View at Broadway and Surf (winter 2012)
  • Walmart Express in West Englewood at South Western Ave. and West 71st St. (winter 2012)
  • Walmart Express in West Chatham at 83rd St. and Stewart Ave. (summer 2011)
  • Walmart Express in River North at Franklin and Chicago Avenues (fall 2011)
  • Walmart Express in Wrigleyville at Broadway and Addison (winter 2011)
Real Estate:
Cabela’s is marking its entry in Arkansas with plans for a 100,000 sq. ft. store in Rogersscheduled to open in the summer of 2012. The retailer has also announced plans to build stores in Wichita, KS, and Tulalip, WA, as well as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, all expected to open in 2012.
Express Inc. recently announced plans to open a new flagship store in Brooklyn, NY. The 10,000 sq. ft. space will be located on the ground level of 490 Fulton St. in Brooklyn. The store is slated to debut sometime in spring 2012.
Gap will open two Athleta stores this week in Manhattan’s Upper East and Upper West side neighborhoods. The openings mark the women’s active wear brand’s entry into the East Coast market, and support Athleta’s plan to open up to 50 stores by 2013.
Jimmy Choo, a division of Labelux Group, opened a new 1,500-sq.-ft. boutique in New York‘s West Village neighborhood.
Seven for All Mankind, a division of VF Corp., will continue its Canadian retail expansion, with the opening of two new stores in August 2011 in Toronto and Edmonton.
The Sports Authority Inc. opened six new stores in five states nationwide on Aug. 13. The new stores are in Miami, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI.

Real Estate:
Assured Pharmacy has signed a lease for its fifth pharmacy, which will be located in Kansas City.
Real Estate:
American Blue Ribbon Holdings announced plans to add three Max & Erma’s restaurants this year and five to 10 restaurants a year for the next several years, mostly in the current markets of Columbus, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Baristas Coffee Co. Inc. completed a development franchise agreement to open Baristas-branded locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Pasco counties in FL; the agreement calls for five locations over the next three years with an option for five additional locations over the next eight years.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has announced plan to expand in Ennis, TX. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is focused on expanding in the western United States; plans call for new locations in AZ, CA, ID, AR, TX and TN by year’s end.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will add 23 new locations in CA over the next year; the company is targeting San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande.
Dunkin’ Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement for 12 restaurants in Cedar Rapids, IA.The first restaurant is slated to open in 2012 and the remainder by 2018.  Dunkin’ Donuts also announced it has signed agreements with two franchisees to develop 11 new restaurants throughout AR over the next several years.
Schlotzsky’s said that it has signed 75 franchise agreements for a total of 25 restaurants that will each house the Schlotzsky’s, Cinnabon and Carvel concepts under one roof. The restaurants will begin to open throughout NJ and TX during the next six to 12 months.
Wingstop has signed 36 development agreements since January 2011 that will result in 101 new store openings over the next several years.