ISSAQUAH, WA-Executives are looking at countries beyond where its current foreign stores are, but say store openings won't happen quickly.

NEW YORK CITY-Though the International Council of Shopping Centers' Spring Convention last week had record-breaking attendance, at least one shopping-center analyst report on the show views the industry with caution. "It did seem to us that managements and investors may have been a bit less excited about the strong demand this year than last," says a report by Matthew Ostrower, a REIT analyst at Morgan Stanley. However, he concedes that the convention was busier than ever for shopping-center owners and landlords, who did not indicate that there was any slowdown in the demand for retail space.

INDIANAPOLIS-Two private equity firms are offering just under $13.63 per share for Marsh Supermarkets. This recent proposal marks a $2-per-share increase from what Sun Capital is paying for the retailer.

The pull of this project is amazing.

MINNEAPOLIS-The company must operate a total of 60 to 80 units, up from 47, to reach profitability.

LAS VEGAS-Service with a smile won't cut it anymore when trying to get customers' attention. With heavy competition and changing shopping desires, retailers now need to go the extra mile to attract consumers. That was the message of retail consultant Barbara Wold who spoke at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Spring Convention here in a presentation called "The WOW Feeling." The convention, which started on Sunday, ended on Wednesday.

LAS VEGAS-Lifestyle centers are one of the hottest retail property types right now, but not everyone agrees on what they actually are. "It's a diluted term that a lot of people use for all kinds of centers," says Josh Poag, chief financial officer of Memphis-based Poag & McEwen Lifestyle Centers, the firm given credit for actually coining the phrase in the early 1990s.

HEMET, CA-The Garrett Group LLC will develop a $200 million-plus lifestyle center, traditional retail, freestanding big-box retailers, restaurants, office and housing on the site.