The ICSC NY National Deal Making Conference kicked off today.

Restaurants have long served as critical components in the experiential equation of Steiner + Associates town centers. “Eating out is in,” said Yaromir Steiner. “Whether it is a chef-driven concept or a fast-casual restaurant, dining is an inherently social activity that elevates the destination status of a community, drives traffic and captures coveted discretionary dollars.

With record breaking attendance and tremendous energy, the 2015 ICSC New York Dealmaking Conference kicked off this morning at the Javits Center.

Easton Town Center, a 1.7 million-sq.-ft. “New Urban” shopping center, has announced that 13 new tenants have signed lease agreements to be included in the shopping center’s new 500,000-sq.-ft. north district, Easton Gateway.

A total of 13 tenants have signed new leases at Easton Town Center, a 1.7-million-square-foot New Urban shopping center in Columbus, Ohio.

Nurturing just about anything–A house, plant, toddler, a romantic relationship—requires a deft touch. The same is true of the fragile independent stores that shopping center owners and managers are increasingly seeking to incubate.

A dynamic new mixed-use, open air addition to the North Cincinnati, Ohio market, Liberty Center is now just months away from completion. The project is on schedule to open by the end of 2015. Co-developed by Steiner + Associates and Bucksbaum Retail Properties.

In the rich history of mixed-use design and development, retail reigns supreme.

Lyndhurst Ohio-based First Interstate Properties, Ltd has named Columbus Ohio-based Steiner + Associates as exclusive retail leasing agent for its 610,000 square foot mixed-use Legacy Village in Lyndhurst (Cleveland) Ohio.

Outdoor outfitter REI will open its first store in Columbus on May 9 at Easton Gateway, with grand opening events scheduled to begin on May 16.