AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is in the process of converting some of its North American plants to produce face masks that will be donated to first responders and healthcare workers. The first machinery has been delivered and installed. Donation of the face masks will come in the following weeks. FCA operates 36 production plants in North America, according to its website. FCA is also working in partnership with nonprofit organizations that are providing food to children until schools return to session. Starting immediately, FCA will help provide more than 1 million meals to school-age children in the communities around its principal manufacturing plants in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The program will then be extended nationwide and to Canada and Mexico. FCA plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations in Auburn Hills and construction projects, will remain closed until April 14, dependent upon various states’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to normal production. Mopar Parts distribution centers, which have been deemed essential to keeping first responders and commercial vehicles on the road, will continue to operate with paid volunteers.
NOVI, MICH. — Milan Laser and US Mattress will soon join the tenant lineup at West Oaks Shopping Center in Novi. Milan Laser will occupy the 1,624-square-foot space formerly home to GameStop. US Mattress will take the 2,600-square-foot space formerly occupied by Art Van Pure Sleep. Tjader Gerdom, Larry Siedell and Michael Murphy of Gerdom Realty & Investment represented the landlord, RPT Realty. West Oaks is located at I-96 and Novi Road, directly across the street from Twelve Oaks Mall.
ROYAL OAK, MICH. — Bernard Financial Group has arranged a $1 million loan for the refinancing of a 17,300-square-foot office and retail building in Royal Oak, a northern suburb of Detroit. Dan Duggan of Bernard arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, 320-322 S. Main Holdings LLC. Ohio National Life Insurance Co. provided the loan, terms of which were undisclosed.
LANSING, MICH. — As the COVID-19 death count in Michigan climbed to 15 on Monday, and the state’s total confirmed case count was 1,328, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order is effective today and runs through April 13. Non-essential businesses could be subjected to a fine of up to $500, forced closure. Business owners who violate the order could face up to 90 days in jail, according to a spokeswoman for the Michigan Attorney General’s Office as reported by the Detroit Free Press. The order came with a lot of questions from the business community about which businesses are considered essential and which aren’t. For instance, Ohio’s stay-at-home order includes a list of specific businesses that are considered essential, but Michigan’s order does not, according to The Detroit News. Included under Ohio’s order are contractors, laundering and dry-cleaning and hardware supply stores. The order directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re part of a critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity or performing tasks necessary to the health and …
DETROIT — Bedrock, the real estate development company created by Quicken Loans Founder Dan Gilbert, will temporarily waive all rent, expenses and parking fees for restaurants and retail tenants that qualify as small businesses and which occupy space at the landlord’s buildings in downtown Detroit. Bedrock owns about 50 percent of the leasable commercial real estate space in Detroit’s 1.4-square-mile downtown business district, according to The Wall Street Journal. In downtown Detroit, Bedrock’s real estate portfolio includes 125 retailers and restaurants. The rent forgiveness initiative, which runs from April through June, comes as businesses across the state temporarily suspend in-person operations unless they are deemed essential. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order on Monday in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The order will be in effect through April 13. Bedrock recognizes that many of its small restaurant and retail tenants have taken a big hit financially due to lost business during the crisis and want to enable these tenants to use their resources to pay bills and meet payroll commitments. Qualification as a small business is based on criteria established using industry and governmental standards.
KALAMAZOO, MICH. — Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. has entered into an agreement with Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. to acquire a Field & Stream store in Kalamazoo. The store will be rebranded as Sportsman’s Warehouse. The company is also purchasing a Field & Stream store in Crescent Springs, Kentucky, and the total purchase price of $5 million for both stores will be funded through borrowings under Sportsman’s revolving credit facility. Sportsman’s will sublease the two locations from Dick’s and the transactions are expected to close this month. Field & Stream is a retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor recreation merchandise that is a subsidiary of Dick’s. Sportsman’s says the acquisitions are consistent with its “growth strategy of opportunistically expanding its store footprint in strong markets with well-established customer bases.”
MARQUETTE, MICH. — Greystone Bel Real Estate Advisors has brokered the sale of a two-property multifamily portfolio totaling 117 units in Marquette, which is located in the state’s Upper Peninsula. The portfolio includes Northwoods and Ridgeview Apartments. Austin Hull of Greystone Bel brokered the transaction. The sales price was undisclosed. An out-of-state buyer purchased the properties from an undisclosed seller. Built between 2004 and 2011, Northwoods consists of three buildings totaling 48 units on 3.5 acres. Ridgeview is a 69-unit property built in 2002. It includes 10 buildings on four acres.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy, has leased a 3,750-square-foot space at 131 Division Ave. in Grand Rapids. The academy will offer a variety of classes for all ages. Todd Leinberger, Mary Anne Wisinski-Rosely and Jason Makowski of NAI Wisinski of West Michigan represented the tenant in the lease transaction with the undisclosed landlord. Cody Hier and Miguel Diaz, both professional MMA fighters, are the co-owners of the studio.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — L. Mason Capitani CORFAC International has arranged the sale of a 128,829-square-foot office building in Farmington Hills for an undisclosed price. Built in 2001, the Class A property is located at 37101 Corporate Drive. It is fully leased to Panasonic Automotive Systems. Mason L. Capitani represented the buyer, LREH Michigan LLC. The seller was undisclosed. Capitani’s affiliate company, Liberty Property & Asset Management, will manage the asset.
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Beyond Juice Juicery + Eatery will open its 15th Southeast Michigan location at the new Uptown Ann Arbor project in Ann Arbor. Beztak Properties is the project developer. Beyond Juice will occupy 1,600 square feet. Billy Gershensen of the Gershenson Group represented Beyond Juice in the lease transaction. Michael Murphy, Vicki Gutowski and Larry Siedell of Gerdom Realty & Investment represented Beztak. Upon completion, Uptown will be home to 250 townhomes and luxury lofts as well as 17,220 square feet of ground-floor retail space.