REAL ESTATE

New York City -- Brixmor Property Group announced Tuesday a series of corporate and regional enhancements to its leasing and redevelopment capabilities as it re-focuses on growing portfolio occupancy, strengthening retailer relationships and ramping-up redevelopment efforts.

Timothy J. Bruce has been appointed executive VP, leasing and redevelopment and as a member of the company’s Management Committee.  

New York City -- Saks Fifth Avenue will close its store in downtown Pittsburgh in 2012, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The news follows negotiations between the retailer, the store’s landlord and city officials over funding for renovations to the building.

New York City -- Marimekk, the Finnish textile and clothing design company, will open a flagship in New York City, on Oct. 6. Located on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District, the store will act as a showcase for new products.

The NYC store is based on the same concept as the Marimekko flagship opened in Helsinki earlier this year. Both locations were designed by the Japanese architectural firm IMA in cooperation with Marimekko's own shop design team.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced Wednesday two new hires in the Southeast Region.

Andrea Kenney and John Lambert have joined the firm to provide strategic planning and evaluation of the positioning, merchandising and development of shopping centers as owners continue to look for ways to enhance their real estate operations and maximize tenancy.

New York City -- Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group said it has successfully orchestrated a buy-out/lease disposition at 46 East 57th Street for jewelry house Buccellati, and simultaneously arranged its move to 810 Madison Avenue.

The Milan, Italy-based company has closed the East 57th Street store after more than four decades and will open in a new location on the "Jewel Mile" between 67th and 68th Streets.

Buccellati will take immediate possession of the former Bonpoint store at 810 Madison Avenue.
 

New York City -- J.C. Penney is adding holiday shops on its main floor, the Associated Press reported.

The "Wrapt" shop concept will debut in the company’s Manhattan store this week. It will be rolled out to the chain’s stores nationwide on Oct. 24.

The in-store shops will carry about 300 items, with the majority exclusive to J.C. Penney, according to the report.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Dallas-based Cypress Equities said that its West 7th mixed-use development in Fort Worth, Texas, has signed specialty women’s fashion retailer Peruvian Atelier for a 2,357-sq.-ft. shop slated to open in late 2011.

The new store will be located between Flirt Boutique and the soon-to-open Keena’s.

New York City -- Centro Properties Group US announced it has officially changed its name to Brixmor Property Group, Inc., effective immediately. 

The name change follows the acquisition of the company in June by an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI L.P. 

Brixmor is the second largest owner of community and neighborhood shopping centers in the United States with 585 properties aggregating approximately 92 million sq. ft.