Acacia Research, a group controlled by hedge fund Starboard Value, has made an unsolicited bid of about $9 billion to buy Kohl's, sources said over the weekend. Kohl's has faced increasing pressure from activist investors to consider strategic alternatives including a possible sale to boost shareholder value, and other firms including Sycamore Partners and Oak Street Real Estate Capital are reportedly considering bids for the retailer.

Blackstone has acquired a mixed-use project in Durham, N.C., for $273.5 million. Called West Village, the site has retail, apartment and office uses.

A Federal Realty Investment Trust affiliate has sold a Giant-anchored retail center in Leesburg, Va., for $73.5 million. Federal Realty acquired the 235,000-square-foot center in 1998.

Brixmor Property Group has acquired a retail center in Brea, Calif., that is co-anchored by a Ralphs and Rite Aid. The property, which sits on 12.5 acres, sold for $85.7 million and was 98% leased at the time.

The Reno, Nev., shopping center known as South Meadows Promenade has sold for $34 million to an investor in a 1031 exchange. The 80,000-square-foot center was fully leased at time of sale by tenants such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Marshalls, Starbucks Coffee, Sprouts Farmers Market and Sports Clips.

Big-box retail stores across the US boast flat rooftop spaces big enough for solar panel installations that could generate half the power they need to run their operations, according to a report from the Environment America Research and Policy Center and Frontier Group. Superstores in the continental US have about 7.2 billion square feet of roof space, with Walmart accounting for the largest share of that space, followed by Target and Home Depot.

Amazon will make a foray into brick-and-mortar fashion retail with the opening of a store called Amazon Style in the Los Angeles area later this year. The 30,000-square-foot store will allow shoppers to scan QR codes to see additional styles and other information about clothing items.

New Apple stores that opened last year follow the tech giant's retail format of melding its minimalist style with architectural features that make each location unique. The Apple store in Rome's Palazzo Marignoli boasts restored murals and frescoes from the original 19th century palace, and a location in Istanbul features a tree-filled green oasis along with a glass facade and skylights to flood the space with natural light.