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 […]

Gage owner, celebrity chef cooking up plans for Block 37 By: Micah Maidenberg The Block 37 mall has landed two tenants to serve up something in short supply at the Loop mall: food. Los Angeles-based CIM Group, Block 37’s owner, confirmed it has leased space there to a group led by Chicago’s Lawless family, which […]

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 […]

Another retail project in the works near Roosevelt Road By: Alby Gallun With one big retail development under construction near the Roosevelt Road shopping strip, Chicago-based investor JRG Capital Partners LLC plans another on a site across the street. A JRG venture paid $7.5 million earlier this month for the property at 1113 S. Jefferson […]

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 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 […]

Mangia! Inside fancy food emporium Eataly By: Lorene Yue Eataly—New York’s celebrity-sponsored food emporium that is the definition of excess—is almost ready to devour River North. But will the neighborhood’s frequent-diner residents and tourists slaver over it? Part restaurant, part gourmet grocer and all show, Eataly is set to open off North Michigan Avenue at […]

Petco, Pier 1 ink leases in South Loop By: Micah Maidenberg Petco Animal Supplies Inc. and Pier 1 Imports Inc. have agreed to open stores in the Roosevelt Road corridor, a retail strip that’s thriving in part because of a lack of nearby competition. The pet supplies retailer leased more than 10,000 square feet in […]

More stores planned at Gold Coast corner By: Micah Maidenberg Evanston-based landlord Ralph Marol is raising his bet on the Gold Coast retail market. Mr. Marol plans to demolish a 14,800-square-foot one-story building he owns at the northeast corner of State, Rush and Cedar streets, replacing it with a three-story, 27,000-square-foot retail project. Redevelopment “seems […]

After losing key tenants, Mag Mile landlord lands Verizon By: Micah Maidenberg Facing a potential cash crunch, the owner of a prominent Magnificent Mile retail property has snagged a major new tenant in the nick of time. Verizon Wireless has signed a lease to open a store at 840 N. Michigan Ave., said Camille Julmy, […]