REAL ESTATE

College Station, Texas -- Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner, said that it has completed a lease for the relocation of OfficeMax in College Station, Texas.

San Francisco -- Gap said Wednesday it will advance its expansion in Latin America with new store openings in Chile in October, and will introduce Gap and Banana Republic stores to Panama and Colombia in 2012.

“We believe substantial opportunity exists in Latin America and our first stores in Chile, Panama and Colombia will allow us to establish a foundation for further growth in this region,” said Stephen Sunnucks, president, International, Gap.

Houston -- Stage Stores said Wednesday it will launch a new off-price concept, called Steele’s, to be rolled out in small-town America.

The first three stores are slated to open on Nov. 1, in Beeville, Texas; Bastrop, La.; and Minden, La.; the company said it plans to open an additional 25 to 35 new Steele’s stores in 2012.

New York City -- Gov. Jerry Brown of California vetoed a bill that would have required comprehensive economic-impact reports before big-box superstores could begin construction.

The bill, the Small and Neighborhood Business Protection Act, would have required supercenters to address more than a dozen possible economic side-effects, including job losses if competitors faltered.

Elizabethtown, Ky. -- Brixmor Property Group announced a 1,200-sq.-ft. lease has been executed with Edible Arrangements at Kmart Plaza, located in Elizabethtown, Ky.

New York City-based Brixmor is the owner of Kmart Plaza.

San Ramon, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that two new tenants have leased space at Diablo Plaza, located in San Ramon, Calif.

Beverages & more! leased 12,015 sq. ft. and is slated to open this fall. Another new addition, West Coast Gold Buyers, leased 1,300 sq. ft. and is now open.

The 63,265-sq.-ft. center includes national retailers such as Safeway, CVS/pharmacy, Verizon Wireless and McDonald’s.

Florissant, Mo. -- Brixmor Property Group announced a 5,000-sq.-ft. lease has been executed with shoe retailer Prime Sole at Clocktower Place, located in Florissant, Mo.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Clocktower Place.
 

New York City -- Vacancies at U.S. regional shopping malls rose to 9.4% in the third quarter (ended Sept. 30), according to property-research firm Reis, Reuters reported. It represents the highest level since Reis began publishing the data in 2000, and was up from 9.3% in the second quarter.

Landlords' asking mall rents rose to $38.81 per square foot in the third quarter, up from $38.77 in the previous three months and $38.72 a year earlier, according to Reis.