REAL ESTATE

Tile Shop adds two more stores in Tampa area
Minneapolis -- The Tile Shop has expanded its presence in the Tampa, Florida market, opening a location at the Dale Mabry Shopping Center in Tampa, and another at in Brandon.

The new locations join the growing family of Tile Shop stores in Florida, including a location in Jacksonville and an Orlando location to open this spring.
BH Properties promotes Steven Jaffe to chief investment officer
Los Angeles -- BH Properties, a Los Angeles-based firm that specializes in acquiring and repositioning challenged or distressed commercial real estate properties, has announced the promotion of Steven Jaffe to chief investment officer and principal of the firm. In this role, Jaffe is responsible for overseeing the acquisition and disposition strategy of the company as well as the company’s overall growth.

Jaffe has been with BH Properties for 11 years, previously holding the title of executive VP and general counsel.

Ross to open two new stores in Houston market

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Houston area on March 7.

The stores are located in the Center at Pearland Parkway in East Pearland, 15 miles from downtown Houston; and Ravenwood Village Shopping Center in Huntsville. With these new locations, Ross will operate 170 stores in Texas, its second largest state.

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.
Tenant mix expanding at Shoppes at Blackstone Valley

Millbury, Mass. -- Douglas Wine & Spirits, Visionworks and DSW are opening in early 2015 at The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, in Millbury, Massachusetts.

Douglas Wine & Spirits opened February 1st and occupies a 5,400-sq.-ft. space between Sleepy’s and Guitar Center. Visionworks will be in opening in March in a 2,700-sq.-ft. space between Sephora and Feng Asian Bistro.

DSW will be making its appearance in early April in a 15,000-sq.-ft. space adjacent to Marshall’s.
Orchard Supply Hardware opens three new stores

San Jose, Calif. -- Orchard Supply Hardware announced it has opened three new stores, including a location in Portland, Oregon, and two in California (Irvine, and Cerritos).

In addition to the 300 jobs these new stores have created, the retailer plans to hire an additional 1,000 associates as it prepares for the busy spring season, and to support its continuing growth.
Customer understanding key to retailer success

New York -- Customer analytics is a key component to retail success; CSA talked with Buxton's Bill Stinneford at NRF's Big Show in New York City about tech trends and the importance of understanding exactly who your customer is.

Watch video here.
Academy Sports + Outdoors moving Eastward with four stores in Orlando area

New York -- Academy Sports + Outdoors will celebrate the simultaneous opening of four stores in the Orlando, Florida, area in March.

The new stores will be located in Kissimmee, Waterford, Lake Mary and Melbourne and will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on March 6. The openings mark the Katy, Texas-based company’s furthest expansion eastward to date.

The $4 billion sporting goods retailer has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Orlando City Soccer Club beginning with the team's inaugural 2015 season.
Donahue Schriber acquires Whole Foods-anchored Gilman Village

Berkeley, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber Realty Group acquired Gilman Village on January 30, marking the Costa Mesa, California-based company’s second Bay Area acquisition in the past month.

Besides the Gilman Village acquisition in Berkeley, California, Donahue Schriber purchased Village Oaks shopping center, a 320,000-sq.-ft. property anchored by Target and Safeway located in San Jose, California.
Target to open 15 stores in 2015, including eight smaller-former TargetExpress locations

Minneapolis — Target Corp. is opening 15 stores this year, with an emphasis on its smaller-sized TargetExpress format as it looks to further reach guests in urban centers. The discounter will open eight TargetExpress locations, one CityTarget and six general merchandise stores.

Target stated that its strategic store growth is focused on reaching guests in urban centers with new formats like TargetExpress and CityTarget, while also offering new experiences, merchandising layouts and innovations in its general merchandise stores.
5th Street Station breaks ground with area’s first Wegmans

Charlottesville, Va. -- Construction has begun on a new 73-acre, super-regional shopping center, 5th Street Station, in the heart of southern Charlottesville. 5th Street Station brings the first Wegmans store to Central Virginia, along with 335,000 sq. ft. of additional anchor, junior anchor and small-shop opportunities.