MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. — Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) has announced plans to roll out 200 Babies R Us shops this fall at existing Kohl’s locations. The first Babies R Us shop will debut at an undisclosed Kohl’s store in August. Additionally, the company plans to open 140 more Sephora shops at Kohl’s this summer. The Menomonee-based retail giant is partnering with WHP Global, the owner of the Babies R Us brand, in the rollout. WHP Global purchased the Babies R Us and Toys R Us brands in 2021, four years after the brands’ parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. WHP Global is undertaking a similar rollout of Toys R Us locations at cruises and airports, along with new flagship stores. Kohl’s has more than 850 Sephora shops within Kohl’s stores, with each Sephora occupying roughly 2,500 square feet. Currently there are Sephora shops within Kohl’s stores across 48 states. “Not only are we well on our way to having a Sephora presence in every Kohl’s store across America, but we’re also seeing strong sales momentum from our current stores, and the experience is bringing new customers to Kohl’s,” says Nick Jones, Kohl’s chief merchandising and digital officer. Kohl’s reports that …
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WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Regional provider Hackensack Meridian Health has broken ground on a $200 million facility in the Northern New Jersey community of Woodbridge. The project will be part of the larger development of the area surrounding Metropark Station, a major regional transit hub. The 60,000-square-foot facility will be home to an array of primary and specialty care providers, as well as a sports and spine care center. Other services and offerings will include advanced imaging, phlebotomy, rehabilitation services, a retail pharmacy, occupational health services and an urgent care clinic. Hackensack Meridian claims the project will create 1,000 jobs. Completion is slated for late 2025. Russo Development is leading the team behind the larger development, which will ultimately feature residential, office, retail and restaurant uses in addition to the new healthcare facility. Within the residential component, at least 20 percent of the units will be reserved for low-income renters, although specific income restrictions were not announced. The administration of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy awarded the development consortium $110 million in tax credit incentives as part of a larger initiative to “push to modernize transportation hubs throughout the state.” Information about additional financing sources was not disclosed. “New Jersey is pioneering …
BATAVIA, ILL. — German discount grocer Aldi has announced plans to add 800 new locations across the United States by the end of 2028. The company will invest more than $9 billion into the expansion plan, which will be implemented through a combination of new openings and store conversions. In August, Aldi acquired American grocery brands Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket as part of a larger divestiture of parent company Southeastern Grocers. Aldi’s expansion plans in the Southeast include both new openings and converting some of the former Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations to Aldi-branded stores. The locations that are not converted will continue to operate under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys brands. Aldi plans to add nearly 330 stores across the Northeast and Midwest. Additionally, Aldi will expand its presence in the West by adding more stores in Southern California and Phoenix, as well as entering new markets such as Las Vegas. “Our growth is fueled by our customers, and they are asking for more Aldi stores in their neighborhoods nationwide,” says Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi. “With this commitment to add 800 stores in the next five years, we’ll be where our shoppers need us while positively impacting the communities we serve.” Aldi …
MINNEAPOLIS — Retail giant Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) has announced plans to open 300 stores and enhance the majority of its 2,000-store portfolio. The news comes on the heels of the company’s fourth-quarter 2023 earnings reports, which saw comparable sales and traffic trends improving for the second consecutive quarter. Target also plans to invest in its supply-chain operations in hopes of bolstering its next-day delivery options through the use of artificial intelligence for improved inventory efficiency. Enhancements to the Minneapolis-based company’s existing portfolio are set to include remodels adding Ulta Beauty “store-within-a-store” locations, upgrading fixtures and additions that help support same-day services. According to Target’s most recent earnings reports, same-day services like in-store pickup, drive-up and Shipt deliveries represent more than 10 percent of total sales and increased by 13.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. Details on the 300 new locations were not released. The company has also announced plans to reintroduce its loyalty membership program, Target Circle, with a number of membership options that build off of each other. While Target Circle will remain free to join, a new paid membership will be introduced dubbed Target Circle 360, which allows consumers unlimited and free same-day product delivery. …
YONKERS, N.Y. — The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA) has granted final approval of financial incentives for Teutonia Hall, a $458 million luxury apartment project comprising two 41-story towers. AMS Acquisitions is the developer. Located in Yonkers, a northern suburb of New York City, the two-phase development will feature a total of 906 apartment units, 91 of which will be affordable. Plans also call for 2,900 square feet of street-level commercial space and 907 parking spaces. The lower six stories of the buildings will comprise a podium, which will serve as a parking facility for residents. Construction for Phase I is expected to begin in September, with completion slated for December 2027. Phase II construction is anticipated to begin in December 2028, with completion slated for December 2031. The developer received approval for $12.9 million in sales tax exemptions and $4.5 million in mortgage recording tax exemptions. The two phases of the project are estimated to create 1,100 construction jobs. According to a cost-benefit analysis, the project will create $2.35 for every $1 of incentives. The developer is also requesting a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement. YIDA also voted preliminary approval of financial incentives for Champlain Hudson Power …
MILWAUKEE — Fiserv Inc. (NYSE: FI), a global payment and financial tech solutions firm, has unveiled its new corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee. The 170,000-square-foot office space serves as the new global base for the company, which is relocating from nearby Brookfield, Wis., about 13 miles west of Milwaukee. The new Fiserv offices are part of HUB640, a mixed-use campus that also includes a small-format Kohl’s department store that opened in November. Other tenants include Eight Eleven Group, Abacus Architects and North Shore Healthcare, according to Founders 3 Real Estate Services, which is handling office leasing at HUB640. Chicago-based North Wells Capital LLC owns and operates HUB640. As part of the move, Fiserv was awarded $7 million in TIF (tax increment financing) funding from the City of Milwaukee, under the condition that the company retain 93 percent of its employee base at its new office space. “City of Milwaukee elected officials unanimously chose to partner with Fiserv on this project, and we are confident the decision will be applauded for many years to come,” says Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. The new office building is located at 600 Vel R. Phillips Ave., a site that formerly housed the Boston Store, a local …
HOUSTON — Fertitta Entertainment Inc., an entity controlled by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, has purchased River Oaks District, a 664,308-square-foot mixed-use development on Houston’s west side. Multiple local news sources, including the Houston Chronicle, report that the sales price was $450 million. As a shopping and dining destination, River Oaks District features 302,668 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Tenants include Hermes, Cartier, Dior, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Brunello Cucinelli, Balmain, Le Colonial, Toulouse, Bari, Steak48 and Little Hen. River Oaks also houses an Equinox fitness facility and an IPIC Theaters location. River Oaks is also home to the five-story Grey House Apartments, which consists of 279 units in one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Residences feature stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and European cabinetry. Amenities include a pool, fitness center, screening room, conferencing facilities and onsite concierge service. River Oaks, which also features 67,060 square feet of boutique office space, is located at 4444 Westheimer Road. The 14-acre development benefits from a surrounding population in excess of 200,000 people — with an average annual household income of $158,600 — within a three-mile radius. Barry Brown, Erin Lazarus, Colby Mueck, Ryan West, Jeff Hollinden and Dustin Selzer …
HOUSTON — Morales Capital Group, an affiliate of Mexcor International, has unveiled redevelopment plans for Viva Center, a 2.3 million-square-foot office and warehouse complex on a 66-acre site in Houston. The developer plans to revitalize the facility to support the research and development of liquid-cooled IT equipment for supercomputing. Eduardo Morales, CEO of Mexcor International and Morales Capital Group, says he envisions the newly rebranded Viva Center as “a transformative tech hub that seamlessly blends Houston’s rich history with futuristic innovations. With a focus on integrating cutting-edge infrastructure and next-gen application platforms, Viva Center aims to lead the charge in shaping Houston’s technological landscape for years to come.” Morales bought the property in 2022. The asset is part of a larger, sprawling, 300-acre campus that once served as the headquarters of Compaq, which was the largest home computer manufacturer of the 1990s. Fellow tech giant Hewlett-Packard bought Compaq in 2002 and has gradually sold off pieces of the campus, finally leaving the site entirely for a newly built, smaller building in the suburbs in 2022. For example, in 2009, Lone Star College purchased 1.2 million square feet of the property and turned it into a branch of the college. VivaVerse Solutions LLC will lead …
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans for an $800 million renovation of the team’s Arrowhead Stadium. Developed in 1972, the stadium most recently underwent large-scale renovations in 2010. Plans for the new renovation were created in collaboration with a team of experts from Populous, a locally based sports design and architecture firm. The Kansas City Chiefs plan to pay $300 million of the $800 million total price tag, with the remainder coming from Jackson County taxpayers funded through the extension of a 3/8th-cent sales tax, according to reports by The Kansas City Star. County voters will go to the polls April 2 during a special election to decide the issue. Plans for the project include the addition of a new turf-covered “activation zone” with tailgate areas and covered entertainment space at the current site of Kauffman Stadium, home to the MLB’s Kansas City Royals. The baseball team also recently announced plans to develop a new stadium in downtown Kansas City. The stadium’s upper concourse will receive a new connection bridge and canopy, providing weather protection for fans and additional space for food and beverage offerings. New VIP entry points and sideline clubs under the …
NEW YORK CITY — A joint venture between Douglaston Development and the Entertainment Community Fund has received construction financing for Rialto West, a $125 million affordable housing development in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Located at 509 W. 48th St., the eight-story building will include 158 units for low- and moderate-income residents. Rialto West will feature a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that will be designated for households earning up to 140 percent of the area median income. Fifteen percent of the units will be dedicated to serving formerly homeless households. Shared amenity spaces will include a fitness center, laundry room and bicycle storage area. Additionally, the development’s ground floor will include more than 5,500 square feet of cultural space as well as a public restroom facing an approximately 25,000-square-foot public plaza that will be built at 705 Tenth Ave. The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation will operate the public open space, which is to be named after Lorraine Hansberry, the famed playwright and author of “A Raisin in the Sun.” The developers are in discussions with IndieSpace, a provider of affordable workspaces for artists, to lease and operate rehearsal and coworking spaces at the property. The …