REAL ESTATE

Pottsville, Pa. -- North Plainfield, N.J.-based Levin Management Corp. announced that Michaels Stores has leased 22,000 sq. ft. at Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville, Pa.

Levin is the leasing and management agent for the property, which is owned by Ashok Mehra. Michaels’ commitment comes on the heels of a lease by Kohl’s Department Stores, reflecting momentum for the 405,000-sq.-ft. property.

Kohl’s will be opening its new 57,860-sq.-ft. store in early March.

New York City -- A retail real estate market report, issued by Savills US retail group, found that, even as recovery remains slow, a few formats are progressing at a faster clip than others.

According to Gerry Mason, head of Savills, the majority of recent and planned retail development is in the grocery-anchored and outlet center category. CBL & Associates and Tanger Outlets are among the most active developers scheduled to break ground in 2012.

Charleston, W.Va. -- Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises announced that found new upscale women’s retailers have joined the company’s Charleston Town Center property, located in Charleston, W.Va.

White House | Black Market, Coach, Sephora and Francesca’s Collections will open spring 2012. The center will undergo an expansive renovation, incorporating aesthetic updates to both the interior and exterior of the property.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial said that Party City Corp. has signed three leases in Texas and Oklahoma, with plans to open new stores in Dallas; Edinburg, Texas; and Tulsa, Okla., ranging in size from 12,000 sq. ft. to 12,635 sq. ft.

The Dallas store is in Wheatland Towne Crossing, a Target-anchored shopping center. The Edinburg store is located in The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, and the Tulsa store is in the Mingo Marketplace Shopping Center.
 

Toronto -- Target Canada Co. and Starbucks Coffee Canada announced Wednesday an agreement that will put Starbucks licensed stores inside most of the 125 to 135 stores that Target plans to open in the region.

"Our goal is to bring the true Target brand shopping experience to our Canadian guests, so expanding our relationship with Starbucks as we enter the Canadian marketplace is a natural fit," said John Morioka, senior VP merchandising, Target Canada. There are currently 1,097 Starbucks locations within Target stores in the United States.

Chicago -- A Tuesday report by the Chicago Tribune said that Urban Outfitters has opened its second BHLDN store, the apparel retailer’s fledgling bridal concept that first debuted in Houston last summer.

Wilmington, Mass. -- Trinity Building + Construction Management Corp. announced Tuesday that it has formed a new Canadian entity called Trinity Builders + General Contractors, ULC. The new company’s first project is a retail build-out for J. Crew, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Canada’s economy is largely driven by energy and natural resources and therefore has not had the tremendous downturn that we have recently experienced in the U.S,” said Paul Mancini, one of Trinity’s founders and VP business development.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties and Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo announced Tuesday the scheduled opening of 10 Buca di Beppo restaurants set to open at various properties within the GGP mall portfolio during late summer 2012.

The multi-restaurant deal marks a significant expansion of the Buca di Beppo restaurant group. New mall locations include Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee, Fla., August (Ga.) Mall, Oakwood Center in New Orleans and Town East Mall in Dallas.