REAL ESTATE

Editor's Note: Chain Store Age's 24th annual survey of Fastest-Growing Acquirers measured retail square footage purchased during the 2012 calendar year.

This year's Fastest-Growing Acquirers range from list regulars to newcomers, a clear sign that retail is returning as a favored sector for growth.

A recovering economy continues to make retail an appealing category for operators and investors alike and, as might be expected, this year's fraternity contains some of the industry's major consolidators. Yet it also holds investment funds branching into new sectors.

Ontario, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services announced it has named Kevin Boeve as regional manager of its Ontario office, Calif., office.

Boeve joined Marcus & Millichap in June 1999 and most recently served as VP investments.

New York -- Winick Realty Group said that Blink Fitness will open a 15,500-sq.-ft. facility at the base of Chelsea Park, a new residential building located at 260 West 26th St. in New York City.

Blink will have a ground-floor entrance at 308 Eighth Avenue, which will lead down to an expansive lower-level gym. The 12-story building is currently home to 204 luxury rental apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units.  

Honolulu -- Jones Lang LaSalle said that it has named Wendell Brooks III as senior VP of the firm’s retail brokerage business in Hawaii.

Brooks will work closely with Hawaii Retail Market Lead Kirk Horiuchi to assist landlord and retail clients. He will be joined by James “Kimo” Greenwell and Robert Kelley, who will focus on retail leasing and sales.  Additionally, Melissa Masicampo joins the firm as brokerage coordinator and Mark Ching joins as graphic designer and marketing specialist to support the growing retail team.

Los Angeles -- Midtown Shopping Center Associates said it has acquired the land under Midtown Shopping Center plus two adjacent properties totaling 14.56 acres for $42.5 million from Catellus Development Corp., based in Denver.  

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods will celebrate the grand opening of its store in Arlington, Va., on May 9.
   
The store is located in Pentagon Centre. With its opening, Modell’s will have a total of 154 storefronts.
 
“We are thrilled to have our 18th store in the Virginia-Maryland area,” said Modell’s president and CEO Mitchell Modell. “We look forward to becoming a stronghold in our new community and getting them everything they need for the summer.”
 

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- Taubman said that all four of its shopping centers in the state of Michigan -- Fairlane Town Center, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, The Mall at Partridge Creek and Twelve Oaks Mall – have received StormReady designation from the National Weather Service, a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

New York -- RKF has arranged a 1,500-sq.-ft. lease at 35 Crosby Street in SoHo for men’s e-commerce apparel brand Bonobos, which will open its first stand-alone Guideshop location in New York City.

Bonobos currently operates five other brick-and-mortar locations elsewhere.

In the cast iron district of SoHo, the retailer will operate in 1,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 500 sq. ft. on the lower level of the seven-story building. The new store is slated to open in mid-May.