REAL ESTATE

Chicago -- Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction said Wednesday that its restaurant group has begun work on four new projects, including a food court in New Jersey’s largest outlet mall, a steakhouse in a downtown Chicago luxury hotel and two suburban Chicago mall restaurants.

“As we head out of the recession, we’re seeing more importance placed on dining and entertainment, and the focus is on redevelopment,” said William Di Santo, president, Englewood Construction.

Dallas -- 7-Eleven will rebrand convenience stores in Ohio’s Cuyahoga and Lorain counties as part of a 19-store lease from Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Gas Partners LP.

The effective date of the leases will vary, but all leases are expected to be in place by March 31, 2013.

New York -- Kleinfeld Bridal, the iconic New York bridal retailer and star of the hit reality show “Say Yes to the Dress,” will open a 20,000-sq.-ft. salon in Hudson’s Bay’s flagship location in downtown Toronto in early 2014. The Hudson’s Bay Company has exclusive rights to the brand in Canada.

New York -- Wegmans is looking to open its first location in Boston, according to a report on Boston.com.

The company reportedly is seeking to open at the Landmark Center, an office and retail complex that is being redeveloped. Wegmans anticipates that an agreement for the site will be reached “in the near future,” the report said.

Columbus, Ohio -- Glimcher Realty Trust announced Ward Kampf has been appointed from within to the role of SVP, strategic investments, charged with finding high-quality acquisition opportunities consistent with the company’s investment criteria. In the last 18 months, Glimcher has closed on five acquisitions.

Previously SVP, retail strategies, Kampf oversaw retail and leasing strategies for key developments and acquisitions. He joined the company in 2009.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets announced that the firm has closed the sale of Bethesda Walk in the Lawrenceville suburb of Atlanta, on behalf of DLC Management Corp., Tarrytown, N.Y.

Solon Mack Real Estate purchased the 68,271-sq.-ft. shopping center, which is anchored by a 44,271-sq.-ft. Walmart Neighborhood Market that opened in mid-2012.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New Orleans -- Smoothie King Franchises said Monday it plans to open 70 franchise and 30 corporate locations across the U.S. in 2013.

Since December 2012, the smoothie franchise has acquired six additional locations in Florida and Texas, bringing the total number of corporate stores to seven. The company also has opened six new franchise locations since the start of the year.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Mid-America Asset Management said it has signed three furniture/home décor stores to retail locations in Chicago’s suburbs of Oak Brook and McHenry as well as downstate in Bloomington, Ill.

Ashley Furniture signed a lease for 31,573 sq. ft. at Colonial Plaza in Bloomington, Ill., with plans to open in spring 2013. Ashley Furniture will co-anchor the 236,460-sq.-ft. center along with Kmart and OfficeMax.