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Loop Retail Vacancy Lowest Since at Least 2002

With more retailers pouring into the Loop in 2015, vacancy reached its lowest level in at least 14 years. Overall vacancy fell to 9.9 percent last year, the lowest point since Stone Real Estate began compiling a Loop report in 2002, according to the Chicago-based retail brokerage. Vacancy the past two years was 10.8 percent, […]

Retail’s Torrid Romance With Chicago

Retail’s Torrid Romance With Chicago Like a tempestuous relationship—or the Coachella Astronaut that creeped on unsuspecting hispters last weekend— Chicago’s retail recovery is inspired, uneven, and unpredictable. On April 22, we’ll be holding a special Retail Summit to find out where it’ll surface next. Bisnow Chicago office head Jonathan Hobfoll snapped this pic and can […]

Sears wasn’t good fit for State Street scene

Sears wasn’t good fit for State Street scene By: Ellen Jean Hirst State Street increasingly caters to a young hipster crowd. H&M sits across from the Gap and Claire’s. Forever 21 just replaced Charlotte Russe, and Express replaced New York & Co. Carson Pirie Scott was out in 2007. And now, so is Sears. “Sears as […]

Pinstripes coming to Streeterville

Pinstripes coming to Streeterville By: Micah Maidenberg Pinstripes Inc. is bringing its mixture of bowling, bocce and banquets to a former warehouse in Streeterville, ratcheting up competition for entertainment dollars in the downtown neighborhood. Northbrook-based Pinstripes leased 33,000 square feet on the ground and lower levels in River East Plaza, the 109-year-old brick loft building […]

State Street store shuffle

State Street store shuffle By: Micah Maidenberg New York investor Joseph Sitt has a big space to fill after losing a longtime State Street retail tenant to a building two doors north. Forever 21 Inc., a Los Angeles-based apparel chain, signed a lease to open a two-level, 17,159-square-foot store at 10 S. State St., according […]

Clybourn Corridor retail property fetches $20 million

Clybourn Corridor retail property fetches $20 million By: Micah Maidenberg Two aggressive out-of-town investors have teamed up to buy a Clybourn Corridor retail property with a lot of vacant space, a risk and opportunity in a recovering retail leasing market. A venture between New York-based Jenel Management Corp. and White Plains, N.Y.-based Acadia Realty Trust […]