REAL ESTATE

Covington, La. -- Stirling Properties announced it has promoted Chris Abadie to VP and manager of the Commercial Brokerage Division after 11 years as a sales and leasing executive with the company.

In his new role, Abadie will oversee all aspects of commercial operations throughout each of Stirling Properties brokerage offices located in Louisiana and Mississippi. 
 

Wichita Falls, Texas -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said Monday that Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has signed a lease to occupy 1,710 sq. ft. at Kemp Crossing, located in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The new Jimmy John’s location will be operated by franchisee Balwanti Indra Dayaram.

By industry estimates, concrete-slab moisture-related floor-covering failures cost retailers, building owners and contractors more than $1 billion every year. But it’s not just new spaces that present a challenge in this regard. With infill the name of the game in retail development, retailers that open stores in existing spaces also need to be on full alert to the potential for flooring problems.

Chicago -- AT&T announced the opening of the AT&T Retail Innovation Center in Arlington Heights, Ill.

The 10,400 sq.-ft. space — more than twice the size of a conventional AT&T store layout — is designed to showcase the company’s most innovative products and serve to gather customers’ feedback on new retail concepts — all designed to help shape the ultimate customer experience across AT&T’s more than 2,300 stores nationwide.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said it has hired two new team members in the Chicago office.

Tim Henry has been named senior VP and market leader. He was previously a founding principal with National Facilities Group.

Todd Gould was named senior VP.
 

Bethesda, Md. -- Streetsense announced that Founding Farmers restaurant has opened a 7,000-sq.-ft. location at Park Potomac, an 110,000-sq.-ft retail center that is part of a mixed-use community developed by Foulger-Pratt of Rockville, Md.

The new restaurant, which is described as “barnyard chic” and featuring natural ingredients, is joined by Harris Teeter grocery store, as well as Elevation Burger, Emily Grace Fashion Boutique, Love Couture Bridal, Wine Harvest, Zoe's Kitchen, and other shops and services.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced a joint venture with Woodmont Outlets and EWB Development to develop, lease and manage St. Louis Premium Outlets, a new upscale outlet center in Chesterfield, Mo. 

The new outlet center, which was announced in October as Spirit of St. Louis Outlets, will be comprised of 55 acres and will anchor Chesterfield Blue Valley, a mixed-use development to include office space, hotel, restaurant and entertainment venues. 

Cleveland -- CenterMark Development said it has signed a lease with Deal$, a division of Dollar Tree, to occupy an 11,000‐sq.-ft., former Easttown Eagle Market building in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland.

CenterMark purchased the long‐vacant building in October and said it expects to complete the rehabilitation by the spring of 2012. A grand opening is expected during the second quarter following interior improvements by Deal$.