Content about Virginia

Arlington, Va. -- The U.S. Senate on late Monday approved the long-debated Internet sales tax proposal, known as the Marketplace Fairness Act, by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 27. The Obama administration has already endorsed the bill, but before it can become law it must be approved by the House, where Republicans are split on the bill.

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate has announced the completion of several leases for retail space in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Richmond, Va.  
 
The first lease was signed with O’Reilly Auto Parts for 12,608 sq. ft. in a former Rite Aid pharmacy located in Norfolk.  O’Reilly operates 13 other stores in Hampton Roads.
 

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods will celebrate the grand opening of its store in Arlington, Va., on May 9.
   
The store is located in Pentagon Centre. With its opening, Modell’s will have a total of 154 storefronts.
 
“We are thrilled to have our 18th store in the Virginia-Maryland area,” said Modell’s president and CEO Mitchell Modell. “We look forward to becoming a stronghold in our new community and getting them everything they need for the summer.”
 

Cleveland -- Forest City Enterprises said that, as its Short Pump Town Center celebrates 10 years in the Richmond, Va., market, it has launched a “Drawing Board” on Popularise, an online crowdsourcing and community engagement tool that focuses on real estate development.

Wise, Va. -- Brixmor Property Group announced on Monday that Dollar Tree has opened a 9,000-sq.-ft. store at Ridgeview Centre, located in Wise, Va.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Ridgeview Centre.
 

McLean, Va. -- Recreational Equipment said that it will open a new REI store in the Tysons area of McLean, Va.

The 32,800-sq.-ft., two-story store is slated to open in August 2013.

“Tysons is the ultimate shopping hub in Northern Virginia,” said Ray Dinterman, REI retail director for the Mid-Atlantic district. “Our new store will join five other local REI stores and help us better outfit nearly 200,000 active members who paddle the Potomac and hike the Appalachian Trail."

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate announced that Sam McCoy has been appointed VP of the company’s new regional office in Roanoke, Va.

McCoy is charged with strategic planning, acquisition, site development, sales and leasing of commercial properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with an emphasis on the southwest Virginia markets.

Previously, McCoy was director of real estate at Lowe’s Cos., responsible for the development of new Lowe’s Home Improvement store sites in the Mid-Atlantic region.

New York -- Brixmor Property Group announced that Dollar Tree has opened an 8,000-sq.-ft. store at Rose Pavilion, in Pleasanton, Calif., and will open a 9,000-sq.-ft. store at Ridgeview Centre, in Wise, Va.

Brixmor Property Group, based in New York City, owns both Rose Pavilion and Ridgeview Centre.

Reston, Va. -- A report released Thursday by comScore found that retail e-commerce sales in the U.S. rose to $186.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 15% and the strongest annual growth rate since before the recession.

Fourth quarter 2012 sales grew 14% year-over-year to $56.8 billion, marking the first-ever $50 billion quarter. It also represents the 13th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
 

New York -- Wegmans has confirmed plans to open a store in Alexandria, Va., in 2014, according to Washington Business Journal.

The store will be located in Hilltop Village, which is being developed by Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors. The project will feature some 250,000 sq. ft. of retail, anchored by the 143,000-sq.-ft. Wegmans, and 100,000 sq. ft. of office.

Ashburn, Va. -- Miller and Smith, along with JV partner North America Sekisui House, said Tuesday that The Fresh Market will open a new store at One Loudoun, in Loudoun County, Va.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. specialty grocer will break ground in January 2013 and is slated to open fall 2013.  

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate proposed rules filed Wednesday in the Federal Register.