UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 1, 2014

EXCEL TRUST, INC.

EXCEL TRUST, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

17140 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite 300

San Diego, California 92128

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 613-1800

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

On October 1, 2014, Excel Trust, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), the operating partnership subsidiary of Excel Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), completed the acquisition of a retail shopping center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida from Downtown at the Gardens Associates, Ltd., an unrelated third party. The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition, excluding closing costs, was approximately $141.5 million, of which $42.7 million was assumed debt.

The shopping center comprises approximately 339,580 square feet. Major tenants include Whole Foods, The Cheesecake Factory, Golfsmith, Urban Outfitters, and Cobb Theaters.

The Company funded the acquisition with available cash and borrowings under its unsecured line of credit.

On October 2, 2014, the Company issued a press release announcing the acquisition referenced in Item 2.01 above. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information contained in Item 7.01 of this report, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company or the Operating Partnership, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

The financial statements that are required to be filed pursuant to this item will be filed by amendment not later than 71 days following the due date of this report.

The pro forma financial information that is required to be filed pursuant to this item will be filed by amendment not later than 71 days following the due date of this report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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