LENEXA, KAN. — Sierra, a retailer of off-price merchandise operated by the TJX Cos., has opened across the street from Oak Park Mall at Orchard Corners Shopping Center in Lenexa. A grand opening took place Saturday, March 15. Rick Weiser of Block & Co. Inc. Realtors led the build-out of Sierra’s 19,000-square-foot space in partnership with Harmon Construction and CT Architects. The project started with a 37,000-square-foot, former SteinMart property that was split into two to welcome Sierra and Petco. Modifications included a new rooftop, mechanical systems, electrical and gas service, and a new façade. The location marks Sierra’s second in the region. Petco’s space is currently in the drawing stage and is slated for completion in December. David Block of Block & Co. negotiated both the Petco and Sierra lease transactions on behalf of ownership.
YOUNGSVILLE, N.C. — Eaton Corp., a publicly traded electric utility company based in Ireland, has signed a 550,000-square-foot industrial lease at US-1 North Commerce Center in Youngsville, approximately 23 miles outside Raleigh. Upon completion of the three-phase development, US-1 North Commerce Center will span five buildings across 1.4 million square feet. Summit Real Estate Group is the developer for the project. Foundry Commercial represented Summit Real Estate in the lease negotiations. Delivered in June 2024, the first phase — which was 90 percent preleased to three tenants — includes two buildings that total 394,000 square feet. Phase II — which comprises two additional buildings at 470,000 square feet — is slated for completion in the summer. Eaton Corp. will occupy the entirety of Phase III in an $18.3 million build-to-suit arrangement by the second-quarter 2026.
LONGWOOD, FLA.— Winter Park, Fla.-based CrossMarc Services LLC has signed five new tenants to Springs Plaza, a 64,753-square-foot shopping center located roughly 15 miles north of Orlando in Longwood. Among the new tenants are Foxtail Coffee (1,179 square feet), Children’s Art Classes (2,350 square feet), Level Up Pilates (2,365 square feet), 5th Nail Lounge (2,649 square feet) and Turning Point Dance Studio (2,351 square feet). Flavia Kanyago internally represented CrossMarc, as well as Baltimore-based joint venture partner MCB Real Estate, in the lease negotiations. Other tenants at the center — which is now 95 percent leased — include Tijuana Flats, First Watch, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Hurricane Grill & Wings and Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming and a 58,000-square-foot Publix that shadow-anchors the property.
HOUSTON — EōS Fitness will open a 45,000-square-foot gym at West 8 Shopping Center in northwest Houston. The Dallas-based operator is backfilling a space at 9244 W. Sam Houston Parkway N that was previously occupied by LA Fitness. The opening is slated for 2026. Locally based development and investment firm NewQuest owns the center and represented itself in the lease negotiations.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Lee & Associates has negotiated a 20,000-square-foot industrial lease renewal in Fort Worth. The building at 391-399 N. Beach St. is located northeast of the downtown area. Phillip Rosenfeld of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Tarrant County Properties, in the lease negotiations. Todd Hubbard of NAI Robert Lynn represented the tenant, National Bolt & Industrial Supply.
ATLANTA — Selig Enterprises has announced that Phase I of the office space at The Works, the developer’s 80-acre mixed-use development on Atlanta’s Upper Westside neighborhood, is now fully leased. New tenants joining the 125,000-square-foot office component include Babbit Bodner (communications and marketing); City of Atlanta (public safety); Google Fiber; Interior Environments (office furniture dealer and interior designer); and Narrative Content Group (advertising, branding and website design). Existing tenants include Uppercut (creative editorial shop); MacDermid Graphic Solutions (a photopolymer plate manufacturer); iHeart Media (radio conglomerate); and Atlanta Eats (local food-driven media company). Atlanta-based Selig Enterprises owns The Works and handles the project’s office leasing internally.
LIBERTY, MO. — Block & Co. Inc. Realtors has completed the lease-up of Crossroads Shopping Center in the Kansas City suburb of Liberty. The most recent lease transactions were with Total Wireless and Frame It. Additional tenants include Savers, Curves, Sugar Kittens Cat Café & Cattery, Palen Music Center, Dollar General, Pizza Hut and Mi Hacienda. Daniel Brocato and Phil Peck of Block & Co. are the leasing agents for the property.
DOYLESTOWN, PA. — Whole Foods Market has opened a 43,617-square-foot store at 1745 S. Easton Road in Doylestown, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. The store features full-service meat and seafood counters, a bakery, prepared foods section and a wellness and beauty section, as well as a selection of more than 750 wines and 280 craft beers. A grand opening celebration was held this morning.
NEW YORK CITY — Avis Budget Group has signed a 21,400-square-foot retail lease in The Bronx. The car rental agency has committed to the property at 4075-4077 Boston Road, which includes a 16,000-square-foot lot, for the next 20 years. Steve Lorenzo and Garry Steinberg of Lee & Associates represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Ariel Castellanos and Federico Mazzeo from Pinnacle Realty represented the landlord.
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JLL: U.S. Retail Sector Remains Optimistic as Market Conditions Shift
CHICAGO — Retail closures are at a cyclical high, totaling a whopping 9,900 business shutdowns in 2024, according to JLL’s fourth-quarter 2024 retail report entitled “United States Retail Market Dynamics.” For the first time in several years, store closures outpaced store openings in a calendar year. Fabric and crafts retailer JOANN, who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice within a year, is shuttering all 800 stores, while major department store chain Macy’s will close 150 stores over the next three years, with 66 closures anticipated in 2025 alone. The highest number of store closures resulted from discount and dollar stores like Family Dollar, CVS Health and Big Lots, as well as specialty retailers like Party City. Retail closures are represented across different size brackets, with more than 55 percent of announced closures identifying with footprints ranging from 5,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Expanding retailers such as Dollar General, O’Reilly Automotive and Five Below align with these vacant boxes, while larger, major closures like Bed Bath & Beyond and Toys “R” Us occupy more “desirable” locations. On the flip side, between 2024 and 2025, there were roughly 7,700 new retail store openings announced. Nearly 3,000 of these openings …