— By Charles Clevidence — Why asphalt crack sealing is the most cost-effective preventive maintenance strategy. Crack sealing is the process of applying a specialized rubberized sealant into cracks in asphalt pavement to prevent water, debris and chemicals from penetrating the surface and damaging the base and subbase layers. It serves as the pavement’s first line of defense against deterioration and can significantly extend the service life of the asphalt. This treatment is most effective when performed early — while cracks are still small, typically a quarter-inch and wider, and …
property management
Disaster Preparedness, Future-Proofing Systems: Facility Maintenance Strategies for Severe Weather
For retail and restaurant operators, severe weather is a recurring operational risk. Hurricanes, flooding, extreme heat and high-wind events are happening more frequently and with greater intensity. As a result, disaster preparedness in the retail and restaurant industry has shifted to a proactive facility maintenance discipline focused on resilience, continuity and speed of recovery. From a facility maintenance perspective, preparedness today means having a current, practiced and flexible plan. Plans must be testable and able to be executed quickly when conditions deteriorate. As Thomas Navarro, vice president of business development …
Fremont, Calif. — MINISO, a global lifestyle brand, will open its largest Bay Area store on Jan. 17, 2026 at Pacific Commons Shopping Center in Fremont, Calif. Spanning more than 12,000 square feet, the new location represents a major milestone in MINISO’s Northern California expansion. Managed by Phoenix-based Vestar, Pacific Commons Shopping Center is conveniently located off the I-880 Freeway at Auto Mall Parkway. The new MINISO store is situated at the intersection of Boscell Road and Curie Street, next to T.J. Maxx and across from Costco. “The opening of …
Davenport, Iowa — Von Maur Department Stores plans to open a new anchor store at Macerich’s Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, N.J., with an anticipated opening in fall 2027. The new location will mark the company’s first store in New Jersey, expanding its presence in the Northeast. Von Maur is renowned for its thoughtfully curated selection of brand-name and specialty apparel, shoes, accessories and gifts. The three-level, approximately 164,000-square-foot Von Maur location will feature the company’s industry-leading amenities including superior customer service, an interest-free charge card, a robust rewards program …
From Liability to Opportunity
— By Keith Etchells — Revitalizing Diamond Bar Shopping Center through strategic remediation. In retail real estate, environmental contamination can be a deal breaker. For property owners and investors, subsurface pollution such as solvents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals and other industrial byproducts can restrict the asset’s current and future uses and commonly comes with significant regulatory management costs. With the right combination of strategy, funding and technical expertise, resolving environmental challenges can be accomplished in ways that support long term property goals. The owner of the Diamond Bar shopping center in …
Alpharetta, Ga. — British clothing brand Boden opened its first-ever store in the United States on Nov. 21 at mixed-use destination Avalon in Alpharetta, Ga. The 2,000-square-foot retail space marks a key milestone in the brand’s U.S. growth strategy. The new store blends color and wit with the quality craftsmanship that Boden’s customer knows and loves. A bespoke chandelier, commissioned in partnership with British design house Richard Taylor Designs and handcrafted in Italy, lights the space with a gallery-style exhibition featuring iconic British figures personally chosen by its founder and …
Proactive Maintenance: The Key to Avoiding Costly Restaurant Downtime
For restaurants, few things are more disruptive or expensive than an equipment failure during working hours. Whether it’s a failed refrigerator, a backed-up drain or an HVAC unit that quits in the height of summer, a single breakdown can halt operations, spoil inventory, drive away customers and result in lost revenue and trust. Yet most of these expensive emergencies can be prevented through proactive maintenance. “Regular inspections and cleaning schedules are the simplest way for restaurants to safeguard uptime and extend the lives of their critical systems,” says Bill Schaphorst, …
Planon Appoints Chief Revenue Officer for Facilities and Field Services
Nijmegen, the Netherlands — Planon, a leading global provider of smart sustainable building management software, has appointed Sylvain Lamy as chief revenue officer (CRO) for facilities and field services, joining the company’s executive management team. In this position, Lamy will lead Planon’s global commercial organization for the facilities and field services business lines, driving sales, services and partner growth worldwide. “Sylvain brings a strong track record in scaling enterprise software businesses and leading high-performing international teams,” says Peter Ankerstjerne, CEO of Planon. “His commercial acumen and customer-centric mindset will be …
New York City — In a transaction arranged by CBRE, Bambi Baby, a national retailer selling baby furniture, nursery sets, strollers, car seats, cribs, bedding and other related products, has inked a retail lease for its first New York City store at 655 Sixth Ave. The retailer will occupy 900 square feet of prime, ground-floor space and 8,500 square feet in the lower level of the property located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. CBRE represented Bambi Baby in the negotiations. The property owner, United American Land, was represented in-house …
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Galleria Fort Lauderdale, one of South Florida’s premier shopping destinations, has named retail veteran Jim Heilmann as senior general manager. In this role, Heilmann will guide the center’s operations, marketing efforts, community engagement and tenant relations, with a focus on elevating the guest experience and driving long term value for the property. Heilmann’s expertise spans leadership positions at some of the nation’s top retail and entertainment destinations. He most recently served as vice president of operations for experiential entertainment district AREA15 in Las Vegas, where he …