Top Stories

Vestar Completes $100M Vineyard Towne Center Retail Development in Queen Creek, Arizona

by Abby Cox January 23, 2026

QUEEN CREEK, ARIZ. — Vestar, a privately held shopping center developer and manager based in Phoenix, has announced the completion of Vineyard Towne Center, a 260,000-square-foot retail development located in Queen Creek, approximately 45 miles southeast of Phoenix. Following the 2021 groundbreaking, the $100 million development is now fully leased. “This center has seen incredible leasing momentum, and the strong response from both tenants and residents underscores the demand for high-quality destinations that blend convenience, variety and an elevated sense of place,” says Jeffrey Axtell, executive vice president of development at Vestar. Situated at the corner of Gantzel and Combs roads, Vineyard Towne Center is anchored by a 145,000-square-foot Target, which opened in October 2025. The tenant roster also includes Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain America Credit Union, Academy Bank, LifeQuest, Cadence Running Company, Mattress Firm, Zara Nail Bar, Dentists of Queen Creek, Keep It Cut, European Wax Center, Crown One Beauty Supply, Five Guys, Better Buzz Coffee, Thai Chili 2Go, McDonald’s, Over Easy, Café Rio, Cinnaholic, Zaxby’s, Nekter Juice Bar, Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, Wingstop and Ono Hawaiian BBQ. Additional retailers, such as Verizon Wireless and My Dr. Now, have recently opened at the open-air center, with Pet Supplies Plus slated to …

January 23, 2026

Development Midwest Missouri Office Top Stories

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Opens $1.7B Campus in St. Louis

by Hayden Spiess January 22, 2026

ST. LOUIS — The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has opened its new, $1.7 billion campus in St. Louis. The development will serve as the new campus for the NGA, which is relocating from its existing facility in downtown St. Louis. Situated on a 9-acre heart in the St. Louis Place neighborhood, the N2W campus features a 700,000-square-foot office building, two multi-level parking garages, a secure visitor center, delivery inspection facility and multiple secured access points. McCarthy HITT, a joint venture led by McCarthy Building Cos., partnered with the NGA to deliver the project. McCarthy HIIT also includes HITT Contracting, Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp., Gensler and Akima LLC. A joint venture between Black & Veatch and Gensler also served as the architect-engineer of record for the development. The decision to build the new headquarters was announced in 2016, and major construction began in early 2020. According to McCarthy HIIT, N2W marks the largest federal investment in the history of St. Louis. NGA, which has maintained a significant presence in the city for seven decades, currently employs more than 3,000 local workers. — Hayden Spiess

January 22, 2026

Development Illinois Midwest Retail Top Stories

Amazon Plans to Open First-of-its-Kind Retail Store in Metro Chicago Totaling 230,000 SF

by Kristin Harlow January 21, 2026

ORLAND PARK, ILL. — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has unveiled plans to open a first-of-its-kind retail store in the southern Chicago suburb of Orland Park. The planned brick-and-mortar store will occupy the long-vacant site of the former Petey’s II restaurant at the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange Road. The Orland Park Village Board approved the project at its Jan. 19 meeting. Amazon’s plans call for a one-story building of approximately 230,000 square feet that will offer groceries, household essentials and general merchandise. The store would function similarly to a large-format retailer such as a Walmart Supercenter. The commercial retail store would be open to the public and is not a warehouse or distribution center. Both the Orland Park Plan Commission and the Board of Trustees have reviewed and approved the plan. The village is not providing any financial incentives to Amazon as part of this project. “When a global retailer of this scale considers investment in Orland Park, it sends a strong signal about the vitality of our community and the strategic importance of this corridor,” says Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge. According to a release, Amazon’s proposed multimillion-dollar investment in Orland Park would generate millions in sales and …

January 21, 2026

Development Maryland Retail Southeast Top Stories

Sphere Entertainment, Peterson Plan Smaller Sphere Venue in Metro D.C. Totaling 6,000 Seats

by John Nelson January 20, 2026

OXON HILL, MD. — Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR), the owner and operator of the Sphere venue in Las Vegas that opened in 2023, is partnering with locally based developer Peterson Cos. for a smaller Sphere venue in National Harbor, a waterfront neighborhood in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Oxon Hill. The planned project represents the second Sphere entertainment venue in the United States and third in the world following the future Sphere’s completion in Abu Dhabi. “Our focus has always been on creating a global network of Spheres across forward-looking cities,” says James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment. The site for Sphere at National Harbor overlooks the Potomac River and would complement other National Harbor mainstays such as MGM National Harbor, a $1.4 billion casino that opened in 2016, Capital Wheel, Gaylord National Resort and Topgolf. The more than 300-acre National Harbor district welcomes approximately 15 million visitors nationally. At full completion, the Sphere venue will feature the Exosphere, which is the Sphere’s programmable LED exterior display, as well as 6,000 seats for concerts, immersive movie presentations and other events. The new venue’s seating volume represents about a third of the 18,600-seat capacity at the Sphere …

January 20, 2026

Acquisitions California Multifamily Top Stories Washington Western

Interstate Equities, PGIM Acquire Multifamily Portfolio in Silicon Valley, Seattle for $272M

by Taylor Williams January 19, 2026

MOUNTAIN VIEW, REDWOOD CITY AND SUNNYVALE, CALIF., AND SEATTLE — Interstate Equities Corp. (IEC), in partnership with PGIM, has acquired a portfolio of four multifamily properties totaling 574 units in Silicon Valley and Seattle. The sales price was $272 million. The seller was not disclosed. The properties, all of which were built between 1987 and 2015 and offer amenities such as fitness centers, pools, dog parks, business centers and outdoor grilling and dining stations, are collectively known as the mResidences Portfolio. They include: IEC plans to implement strategic value-add improvements and amenity enhancements designed to optimize operations and improve net operating income across the assets. The deal is structured with PGIM holding a majority of the equity interest, while IEC retains a minority. “This acquisition reflects a disciplined, risk-aware approach to capital deployment, with a focus on assets positioned to perform through the full hold period,” says Brendan Gibney, director of investments at IEC. “In Silicon Valley and South Lake Union, structural supply constraints, elevated replacement costs and durable employment fundamentals provide meaningful downside protection for occupancy, while strong rent momentum in the Bay Area supports continued rent growth across the cycle.” — Amy Works and Taylor Williams

January 19, 2026

Loans New York Northeast Office Top Stories

Moinian Group Receives $310M Loan for Refinancing of Midtown Manhattan Office Property

by Abby Cox January 16, 2026

NEW YORK CITY — The Moinian Group has received a $310 million loan for the refinancing of 535-545 Fifth Avenue, a two-building office and retail property located near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Deutsche Bank and Société Générale co-funded the loan, while Drew Anderman, Eddie Haber, AJ Bruno and Jared Fried of CBRE represented The Moinian Group in the debt placement process according to CoStar Group. “This refinancing underscores the value of prime Fifth Avenue assets and our disciplined approach to asset management,” says Joseph Moinian, founder & CEO of The Moinian Group. “We are pleased to secure attractive financing that positions the property for continued long-term success.” Situated between East 44th and East 45th streets, both buildings underwent renovations in 2009, with Gensler serving as the architect. Known for its pre-war architecture, the 36-story structure at 535 Fifth Avenue was originally completed in 1927. Spanning 329,733 square feet, the complex is occupied by several corporations, financial institutions, law firms and service organizations. Located adjacent to the first office building, 545 Fifth Avenue rises 13 stories tall and totals roughly 165,000 square feet of space. The building offers additional ground-floor retail space that houses tenants such as Best Buy and …

January 16, 2026

Acquisitions Illinois Midwest Office Top Stories

Real Capital Solutions Acquires Chicago Office Tower for $132.5M

by Hayden Spiess January 15, 2026

CHICAGO — Real estate investment firm Real Capital Solutions (RCS) has acquired 401 N. Michigan Ave., a Class A office tower in Chicago, for $132.5 million. Situated on the Chicago River’s north bank along the city’s Magnificent Mile, the property totals 35 stories and 747,522 square feet. According to RCS, the acquisition price represents a 77.8 percent discount relative to replacement cost. The seller was not disclosed, but Crain’s Chicago Business reports that a joint venture led by locally based Walton Street Capital sold the tower. The news outlet also reports that the transaction represents the highest sales price for a Chicago office tower since 2022. 401 N. Michigan was roughly 87 percent leased at the time of sale. Tenants of the building include the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Dental Association, Scion and private equity firm BDT & MSD Partners. Since 2023, more than 275,000 square feet of leasing activity has been executed at the property. The building also recently underwent $17 million in renovations, including improvements to the lobby and amenity spaces. “The acquisition of 401 N. Michigan represents a rare opportunity to secure a top-performing, institutional office tower in an irreplaceable riverfront location,” says Adam Abeln, chief …

January 15, 2026

New York Northeast Retail Top Stories

Saks Global Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Secures $1.75B Financing Commitment

by Kristin Harlow January 14, 2026

NEW YORK CITY — Saks Global Holdings LLC, the owner of luxury retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The company secured a financing commitment of approximately $1.75 billion, comprising $1.5 billion from an ad hoc group of the company’s senior secured bondholders and roughly $240 million of incremental liquidity from its asset-based lenders. Saks Global says the financing package will strengthen its balance sheet and position the company for “a strong and stable future.” In addition, Saks Global has appointed Geoffroy van Raemdonck as CEO, effective immediately. Van Raemdonck, who previously served as CEO of Neiman Marcus Group prior to its acquisition by Saks Global in 2024, succeeds Richard Baker, who stepped down from his role as executive chairman and CEO of Saks Global, effective Jan. 13. Van Raemdonck is expanding Saks Global’s senior leadership team, appointing industry veterans and former Neiman Marcus Group leaders. “This is a defining moment for Saks Global, and the path ahead presents a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the foundation of our business and position it for the future,” says van …

January 14, 2026

Company News Development Illinois Leasing Activity Midwest Retail Top Stories

Aldi to Open 180 New U.S. Grocery Stores This Year

by John Nelson January 13, 2026

BATAVIA, ILL. — Aldi, a German discount, small-format grocer, plans to open 180 new stores across 31 states this year. By the end of the year, Aldi will operate approximately 2,800 U.S. grocery stores, including its first Maine location in Portland and 10 new stores in the metro Phoenix area. The grocer has operated stores in the United States for 50 years and has gained a loyal following in recent years as the demand for discount grocery items increases in the face of inflation. The company disclosed that 17 million Americans shopped at Aldi for the first time in 2025. “One in three U.S. households shopped at Aldi this past year, and in 2026, we’re focused on making it even easier for customers to shop our aisles first,” says Atty McGrath, CEO of Aldi U.S. Aldi, whose U.S. headquarters is in Batavia, plans to continue its expansion over the next five years in the Southeast and West regions. In the Southeast, Aldi continues to convert former Winn-Dixie retail locations following Aldi’s acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket from Southeastern Grocers in 2023. Aldi plans to reposition 80 former Winn-Dixie stores by the end of the year and 200 total by 2027. …

January 13, 2026

Industrial Leasing Activity Northeast Pennsylvania Top Stories

DrinkPAK Signs 1.4 MSF Industrial Lease at Bellwether District in Philadelphia

by Taylor Williams January 12, 2026

PHILADELPHIA — California-based canned beverage manufacturer DrinkPAK has signed a 1.4 million-square-foot industrial lease at The Bellwether District, a 1,300-acre logistics campus in South Philadelphia. The Bellwether District is a redevelopment of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery campus that can support traditional industrial uses, as well as life sciences and manufacturing uses. Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) is the master developer of The Bellwether District. Jim Belcher, Nick Pickard, Stephen Cook and Mike Spaeder of Newmark represented DrinkPAK in the lease negotiations. According to the Newmark’s analysis of CoStar Group’s data, the deal represents one of the largest industrial transactions in the history of the Philadelphia market and the largest lease since 2020. “DrinkPAK’s commitment at The Bellwether District represents a defining moment for both the project and the region,” says Pickard. “This type of investment brings significant upside to greater Philadelphia, fueling job creation, supply chain expansion and regional economic growth.” Newmark also recently represented DrinkPAK in its negotiations for a pair of industrial lease expansions totaling 2.9 million square feet in Fort Worth. — Taylor Williams

January 12, 2026

Newer Posts

Older Posts