Content about Illinois

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Jeff Balagna will join the company as executive VP and CIO. In his new role, Balagna who most recently served as CIO at Eli Lilly, will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives for the company in its support centers and in-store.
   

Von Maur got its start like many of its department store peers: An immigrant with an American dream opened a downtown store, customers came, they shopped, the brand took hold and took off.

In the case of the midwestern upscale department store banner Von Maur, the dreamer was German immigrant J.H.C. Petersen, who opened a downtown storefront in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872. He and his sons grew the business and sold it nearly a half-century later to a partnership that included two Austrian brothers — C.J. and Cable von Maur, whose family gained full ownership by 1937.

Chicago -- Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction said Wednesday that its restaurant group has begun work on four new projects, including a food court in New Jersey’s largest outlet mall, a steakhouse in a downtown Chicago luxury hotel and two suburban Chicago mall restaurants.

“As we head out of the recession, we’re seeing more importance placed on dining and entertainment, and the focus is on redevelopment,” said William Di Santo, president, Englewood Construction.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- Mid-America Asset Management said it has signed three furniture/home décor stores to retail locations in Chicago’s suburbs of Oak Brook and McHenry as well as downstate in Bloomington, Ill.

Ashley Furniture signed a lease for 31,573 sq. ft. at Colonial Plaza in Bloomington, Ill., with plans to open in spring 2013. Ashley Furniture will co-anchor the 236,460-sq.-ft. center along with Kmart and OfficeMax.

Peoria, Ill. -- Cullinan Properties announced it has officially opened its Levee District at East Peoria Downtown, in Peoria, Ill.

Joining anchor stores Costco, Target, Gordmans, ULTA Beauty and Ross Dress for Less at the shopping center are Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, both slated to open this summer.

GNC will open a new store on May 8 at The Levee District, which encompasses over 86 acres that will include 500,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space, as well as office, hotel and civic components.

New York -- Fashion Outlets of Chicago, a new mall due to open in August near O'Hare International Airport, on Tuesday announced its tenant list.

The two-level, 530,000-sq.-ft. center will be anchored by a Bloomingdale's outlet, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Forever 21.

Washington, D.C. -- According to published reports, President Obama will nominate Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell as director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Washington -- President Obama has selected Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc., to lead the Interior Department, White House officials said Wednesday.

Jewell, a former banker and Mobile Oil Corp. executive, is an outdoors enthusiast and conservation advocate. She joined the board of REI in 1996, and was appointed COO in 2000. In 2005, she was named CEO. Under her leadership, REI increased sales from $1 billion to nearly $2 billion, added 71 stores, and greatly expanded its online business.

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. -- A Friday report by Mid-America Real Estate Corp. found that 2012 shopping center construction in the Chicagoland area grew 10% year-over-year, after a four-year decline.

According to the 2012-2013 Chicagoland Shopping Center Report, square footage increased from 1.02 million sq. ft. of space in 2011 to 1.14 million sq. ft. – a difference of about 113,000 sq. ft.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group and Institutional Mall Investors (the co-investment venture owned by an affiliate of Miller Capital Advisory and The California Public Employees' Retirement System [CalPERS]), on Thursday announced that they have formed a joint venture to own and operate The Shops at Mission Viejo in the Los Angeles suburb of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Woodfield Mall in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill.

Elgin, Ill. -- Tarrytown, N.Y.-based DLC Management Corp. said that Safelite AutoGlass has signed a lease to join Wing Park Shopping Center, located in Elgin, Ill., as an endcap anchor, occupying 4,176 sq. ft.

Other tenants in the community shopping center include Walgreens, Family Dollar and Little Caesars. The center is nearly 90% occupied.

Arlington, Va. -- In a letter sent Wednesday, Retail Industry Leaders Association president Sandy Kennedy asked President Obama to take action to prevent a work stoppage at the East and Gulf Coast ports.

Negotiations on Dec. 18 did not produce a resolution between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, foreshadowing a shutdown of the Eastern and Gulf ports by the end of the year.