CHICAGO — How retailers can best integrate online and brick-and-mortar sales as well as utilize new technology to analyze shopper activity were two of the most prominent discussion points at this year’s Chicago Deal Making & VRN Outlet Convention. The event, hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), took place at Navy Pier on Oct. 17-18 and attracted more than 2,400 registered attendees. In a recently released study from ICSC, a new store opening was shown to boost a brand’s web traffic within that market by an average of 37 percent. There’s a special term for it, known as the “halo effect.” The magic formula for today’s retailers and shopping centers is to marry online efficiency with brick-and-mortar locations, according to Karen Fluharty, partner with Montville, N.J.-based Strategy + Style Marketing Group. Fluharty’s remarks came during the “Future of Outlets” session. Today, an omnichannel presence is increasingly critical to a retailer’s competitiveness. Online retailers with growing sales have started successfully transforming their “clicks” into “bricks.” Warby Parker and Bonobos are two of the most well-known online retailers with a steady expansion of physical stores. What’s beneficial for outlet centers is that nine out of 10 consumers say they …
Illinois
KILDEER, ILL. — SVN | Chicago Commercial has brokered the sale of a six-acre development site at 21481 N. Rand Road in Kildeer for $3.5 million. The purchaser plans to develop a 50,000-square-foot medical office building on the site located about 37 miles northwest of Chicago. Al Lindeman of SVN represented the undisclosed seller, while Avison Young represented the buyer.
ITASCA, ILL. — J.C. Anderson has completed a 108,000-square-foot office and warehouse build-out for Glass Solutions Inc. in Itasca. The property is located at 960 Maplewood Drive. The scope of the project included a 23,000-square-foot office build-out and an 85,000-square-foot warehouse build-out. The office portion includes private offices, a collaboration area, executive conference room, break room and new locker rooms. The warehouse features new electrical, LED lighting and heating units. J.C. Anderson also reworked the dock and delivery areas to create a more efficient flow. Seth Erlich, Andrew Mott and Steve Perry of J.C. Anderson led the project team. Scot Ferguson of Antunovich Associates provided architectural services.
DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Green Bay Packaging (GBP) has broken ground on a new 170,000-square-foot industrial complex in Downers Grove. The building will house a high-tech design department and enable the packaging company to expand warehouse capabilities. A timeline for construction was not disclosed. The Green Bay, Wis.-based company has manufacturing facilities in 14 states.
CHICAGO — Concept Laboratories Inc. has signed a 119,388-square-foot industrial lease at 4920 S. Central Ave. in Chicago. The designer and manufacturer of personal care and household products will relocate from 83,091 square feet at 4404 W. Ann Lurie Place when the lease commences in February 2019. The property on Central Avenue spans 461,750 square feet and includes 20 exterior docks, 12 interior docks and direct access to I-55. Mike Senner and Ned Frank of Colliers International represented the tenant in the lease transaction. Matt Mulvihill, Mitch Adams and Cal Payne of CBRE represented the landlord, Combined Warehouse Co.
MCHENRY, ILL. — Entre Commercial Realty LLC has arranged the sale of a 65,000-square-foot flex office building in McHenry for an undisclosed price. The property is located at 1391 Corporate Drive. Mike DeSerto and Dan Jones of Entre represented the undisclosed seller. The buyer, Papazyan Capital Group, plans to utilize a portion of the building for its own use while subdividing and leasing up other portions as small as 3,000 square feet.
VERNON HILLS, ILL. — NorthMarq Capital has arranged $8 million in refinancing for Emerald Pointe Apartments in Vernon Hills, a northern suburb of Chicago. The 120-unit apartment property is located at 695 Westmoreland Drive. Brett Hood of NorthMarq arranged the fixed-rate Fannie Mae loan, which features a seven-year term.
SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Assurance Agency Ltd. has signed a 75,000-square-foot office lease to relocate its headquarters to Woodfield Preserve Office Center in Schaumburg. Bill Elwood and Rob Graham of CBRE represented the landlord, Zeller Realty Group (ZRG), in the lease transaction. Jesse Van Dyke of JLL represented Assurance, which will relocate to the property in 2019. The independent insurance brokerage firm will occupy a portion of the first floor and the entire sixth floor. ZRG has significantly upgraded the property with new amenities such as two fitness centers, game rooms, conference centers, Wi-Fi lounges, full-service delis, community yoga classes and an outdoor courtyard.
CHICAGO — Evergreen Real Estate Group has broken ground on Oso Apartments, a 48-unit affordable housing community in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. Located at 3435 W. Montrose Ave., the five-story building will house 32 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units. First move-ins are scheduled for late summer 2019. Of the 48 units, 32 will be set aside for renters on Chicago Housing Authority’s waiting list. The remaining 16 units will be reserved for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income. Amenities will include a public plaza, community room, in-building laundry, bike storage and 22 parking spaces. Chicago-based Canopy Architecture + Design served as the project architect. Evergreen Construction Co., a division of Evergreen Real Estate Group, will construct the property.
OSWEGO, ILL. — Stan Johnson Co. has arranged the sale of a single-tenant retail building net leased to Jewel-Osco in Oswego for an undisclosed price. The 62,000-square-foot property is located at 3795 Orchard Road. Jewel-Osco has more than 19 years remaining on its initial lease term. Tom Georges and Jon Cohen of Stan Johnson Co. represented the buyer, Los Angeles-based ASAS LLC, in the transaction. Jeff Hughes, Zach Haris and Jonathan Ameen, also of Stan Johnson Co., represented the seller, CF Albert Propco LLC.