California Shopping Complex Opens … and More

HIRINGS AND PROMOTIONS

The Nu-Era Group (St. Louis), a retail fixture and display provider, has promoted Stan Heidmann to president, Dave Fish to vp of sales and Jim Minard to vp of customer support services.

WD Partners (Columbus, Ohio), a design and development firm for multi-unit stores and restaurants, has hired Michelle Fenstermaker as executive director of consumer insights and John Bajorek as director of digital services.

Centiva (Florence, Ala.), a designer and manufacturer of flooring products, has promoted Erin Dempsey to Southeast sales manger.

STORE OPENINGS:

The Strand, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Huntington Beach, Calif., has opened. The complex’s retail and restaurant tenants include: Forever 21, Ra Sushi, Active Ride Shop, Rip Curl, Merrilee’s Swimwear, CVS Pharmacy, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream and a Zimzala Restaurant in the new Shorebreak Hotel that’s also part of the site. Slated to open later this year are Johnny Rockets restaurant and an Angl clothing store.

AJWright, an off-price retailer and unit of TJX Cos. Inc. (Framingham, Mass.), has opened a store in the Pelham Plaza in Pelham, N.Y.

Johnston & Murphy (Nashville, Tenn.) a specialty apparel retailer, has opened a store in concourse B at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

DownEast Home & Clothing Outlet (Salt Lake City) has opened a store at the Cotton Mills II shopping center in Washington, Utah.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Peerless Industries Inc. (Melrose Park, Ill.) a provider of professional-grade audio/visual mounting solutions, has merged with BBG Distribution Ltd. (Watford, England) a distributor of European brands in the audio/visual attachment and peripheral market throughout the U.K.

ASSOCIATIONS

The International Council of Shopping Centers (New York) has named Thomas Phillips state director for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. Phillips is chair of the Retail & Shopping Centers Practice Group at the law firm of Brown Rudnick (Boston).