NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — North Hollywood-based iP2 Entertainment has partnered with National Geographic Partners LLC, a joint venture between National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox, to develop a series of indoor, interactive exploration centers worldwide. Each National Geographic-branded family entertainment center will offer themed attractions, interactive demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Content will be geared toward families with school-aged children, ages five to 12-years-old. The partnership has teamed with K11 to develop its first location in Shenyang, China. The branded center will occupy 4,013 square meters in the Shenyang K11 Art Mall. The location is set to open in summer 2017. A portion of the proceeds from the entertainment centers will support the National Geographic Society’s work in conservation, exploration, research and education.
California
LAKE FOREST, CALIF. — Johnny Rockets plans to open 14 additional mall locations this year. In honor of its 30th anniversary, Johnny Rockets recently announced a brand refresh, which included a new restaurant design and logo. The new restaurant design, which was first introduced at Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse, N.Y., includes modern technology, a fresh design and enhanced staff uniforms. Since the refresh, the Destiny USA Mall location has experienced a nearly 22 percent growth in sales, according to the company. In addition to its mall franchise program, Johnny Rockets has expanded into outlet centers, which now attract more shoppers with higher-end retail stores and food offerings according to recent trends. The brand currently operates 18 outlet locations and is planning an additional five in the near future. Founded in 1986, Johnny Rockets operates more than 350 franchise and corporate locations in 28 countries around the world.
LOS ANGELES — MWest Holdings has purchased the San Fernando Building, an 89,500-square-foot building in the Old Bank District of downtown Los Angeles, for $37 million. The historic building was originally constructed in 1907 as an office building. It was converted into 70 large, loft-style multifamily units with about 11,500 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space in 2000. The San Fernando Building is located at 400 S. Main St. It is currently 92 percent leased. The building has also been featured in several films, including Bull Durham and 500 Days of Summer. Fred Cordova, Lee Shapiro, Ryan Eddy, Justin Weiss, Michael Puleo and Jake Sachse of Kennedy Wilson represented the seller, Gilmore Associates, in this transaction. Mesa West Capital provided the $21.6 million acquisition loan for the property. Sklar Kirsh was the legal representation for MWest Holdings, while Shumaker Mallory represented Gilmore Associates in this transaction.
CARSON, CALIF. — KTGY Architecture + Planning has unveiled the design for Vintage Real Estate’s retailer expansion at SouthBay Pavilion, a 1.2 million-square-foot enclosed shopping center located in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson. KTGY worked with Vintage Real Estate to redesign the mall’s over-all lease plan to make way for a new 17,000-square-foot F21 RED store, and new retail and food tenants, as well as new flooring, restrooms and other upgrades to the property. The firm adapted Forever 21’s F21 RED brand for the new SouthBay Pavilion store, which includes floor-to-ceiling display window boxes, textured wall treatments and red metal panels. The expansion includes food concepts Wing Stop, Jamba Juice, Chile Verde Mexican Food and health retailer Vitamin World. The anticipated completion date for the redevelopment is early 2017.
CANOGA PARK, CALIF. — Charles Dunn Co. has arranged the acquisition of a single-tenant retail property located at 8232 De Soto Ave. in Canoga Park. A private investor from Orange County acquired the 3,139-square-foot property from a Los Angeles-based private investor for $2.9 million, or $948 per square foot. Built in 2001, the property is triple-net leased to Wendy’s. Kyle Gulock and Jason Cope of Charles Dunn Co. represented the buyer, while Sands Investments Group represented the seller.
TORRANCE, CALIF. — Irvine, Calif.-based The Muller Company has signed 24 Hour Fitness to Del Amo Crossing, a 422,000-square-foot, mixed-use complex located at 21515 Hawthorne Blvd. Designed by Nadel Architects, the two-story 24 Hour Fitness will be located in a new 44,000-square-foot building, which will be adjacent to the existing office structure. The $22 million, 15-year lease will be the chain’s first super sport club in the area. Construction is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2017, the fitness center is slated to open in late 2018. Bryan Norcott of Savills Studley represented 24 Hour Fitness, and Chris Sinfield and Leslie Mayer of Cushman & Wakefield represented The Muller Company.
Century West Partners to Break Ground on $280M Multifamily Development in Metro Los Angeles
by Katie Sloan
GLENDALE, CALIF. — Century West Partners will break ground today on Next on Lex, a $280 million, mixed-use multifamily development located in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. The transit-oriented development, located at 201 Lexington Drive, will occupy a full block and will feature four, six-story buildings that include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units and studio lofts. The property will also offer 10 live-work units, as well as three levels of underground parking with space for 753 cars and 152 bicycles. Next on Lex will include 8,140 square feet of retail space, which will be occupied by a Citibank branch alongside other tenants. Amenities at Next on Lex will include outdoor living areas; pools and hot tubs; landscaped courtyards including a rooftop deck and sky lounge; multiple sun decks; and a variety of community spaces. The property will also feature an onsite business center; yoga studio and fitness center; a media room; game room; private massage room; and party room and kitchen. Demolition on the existing office building on-site took place in April, according to reports by the Los Angeles Times. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA) designed the project. Chicago-based W.E. O’Neil Construction is the …
Grace Healthcare Sells Three Skilled Nursing Facilities for $14.7M, Exits California and Arizona
by Nellie Day
MORAGA, CALIF., PLEASANT HILL, CALIF., AND PHOENIX — Grace Healthcare has sold Grace Healthcare of Moraga, Grace Healthcare of Pleasant Hill and Grace Healthcare of Phoenix for a total of $14.7 million. The dispositions mark the owner-operator’s exit from the states of California and Arizona. Located 20 miles east of San Francisco, Grace Healthcare of Moraga features 49 beds on 1.9 acres. Built in 1965, the 12,484-square-foot community offers dementia care and rehabilitative care. Grace Healthcare of Pleasant Hill is located 10 miles east of the Moraga community and features 51 beds. The community was built in 1958 on one acre, and underwent renovations in 2012. Grace Healthcare of Phoenix features 100 beds in a 26,621-square-foot facility on three acres. A California-based investor bought both California communities for a total of $8.2 million. The new owner will lease the community to a new operator. A regional investment group bought the Phoenix property for $6.5 million. Evans Senior Investments, a seniors housing brokerage firm, represented Grace Healthcare in the three transactions.
TEMPE, ARIZ. — CBRE has arranged the $1.7 million sale of a 3,288-square-foot, freestanding retail property located at 111 W. University Drive in Tempe. Andrew Fosberg, Max Bippus and Bert Kempfert of CBRE represented the seller, Ehrhardt Investment Properties LLC, in the transaction. Greg Saltz with GPS Retail LLC represented the buyer, SimonCRE Alpha LLC. Ehrhardt Bike Shop has occupied the property for 30 years.
VISTA, CALIF. — La Mirada Drive LLC has acquired Thibodo Ranch Business Center, a 53,572-square-foot industrial business park in the San Diego submarket of Vista, for $7.5 million. The park is located at 2330, 2332, 2336 La Mirada Drive. The LLC plans to stabilize the project and hold as a long-term investment property. Isaac Little, Marko Dragovic, Matt Weaver and Al Apuzzo of Lee & Associates – North San Diego County represented the buyer. Little, Dragovic and Larry Strickland represented the seller, Thibodo Ranch LLC, in this transaction.