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DESERT PASSAGE SALE PENDING?

Trizec Properties was close to selling its underperforming Desert Passage mall in Las Vegas at press time, according to media reports. Trizec was offering the center for about $235 million to David Edelstein, an East Coast developer, and RFR Holding, a New York City-based investment firm, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Neither side would confirm the deal to SCT, but Trizec did acknowledge that it was talking to “several parties.”

TRANS WORLD BUYS WHEREHOUSE

U.S. bankruptcy courts approved Trans World Entertainment Corp.’s acquisitions of the assets of Wherehouse Music (145 stores) and CD World (13 stores). The deals expand the chain to 955 units countrywide. Trans World operates the Coconuts Music & Movies, F.Y.E., Planet Music, Spec’s Music and Strawberries chains. The $40.6 million Wherehouse purchase comprises $35.6 million in cash and $5 million in “assumed liabilities.” Trans World paid $1.8 million for the CD World assets. The company says it plans to retain 111 of the Wherehouse units and liquidate the remaining 34.

MEXX OPENS IN U.S.

Apparel retailer Liz Claiborne opened the first U.S. unit in its Mexx chain, in what could be the start of a major rollout of stores here. The two-level, 17,000-square-foot store, on Fifth Avenue in New York City, sells apparel, accessories and body products for men and women between 25 and 40. Two more opened, one in downtown Manhattan, another in The Westchester mall, White Plains, N.Y. Mexx operates about 195 stores in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. If the New York stores succeed, the company says it may build as many as 250 nationwide.

INTERNET TAX BILL INTRODUCED

Congress introduced a bill allowing some states to force out-of-state retailers to collect remote sales taxes. The Simplified Sales and Use Tax Act would empower states that enact sales tax simplification laws to mandate tax collection on Internet sales. Sen. Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo., and Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr., R-Okla., are sponsoring the bill.

KIMCO CLOSES MID-ATLANTIC ACQUISITION

Kimco Realty Corp. closed on its roughly $700 million acquisition of the 41-center Mid-Atlantic Realty Trust portfolio. The deal brings the total number of Kimco’s centers to 675.

CBL CONFIRMS AUSTRALIAN JOINT VENTURE

CBL & Associates has confirmed its joint venture with Australian investment concern Galileo America Shopping Trust. The venture, called Galileo Advisory, involves Galileo America’s paying CBL $516 million for a 90 percent share in 51 community and power centers across the United States. CBL will keep the remaining 10 percent and will also continue to manage the properties.