Retail

BOSTON-Modern Continental Enterprises removes Trammell Crow Co. from its position as exclusive leasing agent for Independence Wharf, the 335,000-sf office building located on Atlantic Avenue in the financial district, and gives the contract to Cushman & Wakefield.

SAN DIEGO-99 Cent Only Stores leased 16,200 sf of retail space in Clairemont Town Square for 10 years. 7-Eleven signed a 20-year lease for 28,444 sf in the Valhalla Village Retail Center in El Cajon.

DENVER-Brewery Bar II, a popular eatery at the edge of Downtown Denver, is opening a second location in the Entertainment District in the recently created city of Lone Tree. Wynkoop Brewing Co. is opening the first "brew-pub" in the Capitol Hill neighborhood east of the Central Business District.

SEATTLE-Starbucks Coffee International has inked a deal with Marinopoulos Brothers, a retail, commercial and industrial group in Greece, to open specialty coffee shops in Athens and throughout the country. The first store is scheduled to open in Athens this fall.

BINGHAM FARMS, MI-The retail REIT believes it could see funds from operations reduced by $2.2 million year from the closure of up to 12 department stores. Kmarts lease 27 properties from Malan, accounting for 25% of base rents.

LONDON-The UK shopping centre sector saw a surge in investment activity at the end of 2001. The final quarter saw more money invested in UK malls than during the second and third quarters combined, according to DTZ.

SEATTLE, WA-Whether redeveloping, leasing or building to suit, Ruggerio paints a picture of a very active big-box market, but one where companies are paying close attention to the bottom line and staying lean when it comes to paying for space.

AUSTIN-Seattle's Best Coffee lines up a franchise partner to develop 13 cafes in Austin and three in Waco. The first of the RTG Business Enterprises-owned cafes could open by January. Competitor Starbuck's has 27 locations in the markets.