REAL ESTATE

Framingham, Mass. -- T.J.Maxx will be opening five stores in the Chicagoland area starting this week and through October.

"The opening of these five stores in the Chicagoland area marks a momentous occasion for our brand," Richard Sherr, president of T.J.Maxx, stated.

All five T.J.Maxx stores will occupy over 122,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Birmingham, Alabama — Charles McNamee has joined Bayer Properties as senior VP of development and construction. McNamee most recently served as senior VP of commercial development and construction with Colonial Properties Trust.

In his position with Bayer, McNamee will be responsible for all aspects of development and construction, including oversight of both the Development and Tenant Coordination and Construction Departments.

New York -- Seiko Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation, announced the grand opening of its first Seiko boutique to enter the United States at 510 Madison Avenue in New York City.  

The New York Seiko boutique is primarily dedicated to Seiko's collections, but also features boutique exclusives.

Tampa, Florida — RMC Property Group has been awarded the exclusive leasing and management assignment for The Promenade, located at 10330 North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

The Promenade is a 29,984-sq.-ft. mixed-use property with 19,549 sq. ft. of ground floor retail and 10,435 sq. ft. of professional and office space on the second floor. Anchor tenants include International Diamond Center and Phoenix Home Care.

Chicago — Turkish fashion concept, SARAR, signed a lease at 111 West Washington Street in Chicago for 3,139 sq. ft. Mid-America Vice President Michael Wexler represented SARAR in the transaction. Danielle Rudas and John Vance of Stone Real Estate represented the landlord.

This will be SARAR’s third location in Illinois. The new location is expected to open in fall 2014. 

Sweetwater, Fla. -- Ikea will open its first store in the Miami-Dade region of Florida on Aug. 27.

Ikea Miami is the home furnishings company’s fourth store in Florida, 39th in the United States, and 361st worldwide. The 416,000-sq.-ft. Ikea Miami features the largest rooftop solar array in South Florida.

The story of Houston, Texas has added some exciting new chapters in recent years. With low unemployment, a booming economy and one of the fastest-growing populations of any city in the nation, Houston’s rise alongside some of the most prominent cities in the nation continues unabated. Trailing only New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago in size, Houston’s growing influence as a cultural and financial icon has made it a player on the national and international stage.

Atlanta -- Country Club Prep, an e-commerce retailer for preppy apparel, is hosting the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 23. Launched from a basement in 2012 by two former attorneys Matt Watson and Stephen Glasgow, the concept will launch its brick-and-mortar presence at the University of Virginia.