Stand in the center of Des Moines, take a look in all directions and one will discern that retail growth is not discriminating. It’s occurring in all areas of the marketplace.That’s not surprising for a metro area of 600,000 that was recently named “America’s Wealthiest City” by NBC’s Today show as part of a special series titled “Healthy, Wealthy, Wise.” In 2013, Forbes magazine ranked Des Moines tops on its 15th annual list of “Best Places for Business And Careers.” Market statistics provide plenty of evidence. Occupancy in neighborhood retail centers has increased for three straight years, rising to 81.9 percent at the close of 2013. Leasing activity has been robust with more than 300,000 square feet of positive absorption during the past 12 months. Only a few big-box retail spaces are now available with occupancy rising to 97.5 percent in December 2013. Although growth is occurring in all areas, the Jordan Creek Town Center corridor continues to grab headlines. Hurd Real Estate continues construction on the 328,597-square-foot Plaza at Jordan Creek. In addition to Lowe’s and the recently opened Dick’s Sporting Goods, both HomeGoods and Nordstrom Rack are nearing completion. The Nordstrom lease is a significant milestone for Iowa …
Midwest
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — A new $13 million, 71,500-square-foot extended-stay hotel will open in Springfield this September. The five-story, TownePlace Suites by Marriott hotel will be immediately adjacent to Mercy Hospital Springfield. The development will include 110 units and feature a workout facility, indoor saltwater pool, on-site restaurant and bar and outdoor grilling area. The property will seek LEED certification. RTT Hospitality LLC is the owner/developer of the project. Larry Snyder & Co. served as the general contractor and Baron Design & Associates LLC provided architectural services.
CHICAGO — Mid-America Real Estate has arranged the lease of 3,139 square feet of space for SARAR. The Turkish fashion company signed a lease at 111 W. Washington Street in Chicago. This will be SARAR’s third location in Illinois. It’s first two locations opened in Aurora, Ill., in 2004 and Rosemont, Ill., in 2013. The new location is expected to open this fall. Michael Wexler of Mid-America represented SARAR in the transaction. Danielle Rudas and John Vance of Stone Real Estate represented the landlord. SARAR was founded in Turkey in 1944. Beginning as a tailor’s workshop, the company has grown internationally across five continents and 49 different countries.
CHICAGO — Cohen Financial has secured a $6.5 million acquisition loan for a single-tenant, 13,600 square-foot property currently leased to Walgreens. The in-fill development is located at 3222 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Don Trossman of Cohen Financial secured the loan for the borrower, Focused Sanford Property II LLC, with Illinois-based First Bank & Trust Co.
CHICAGO — MB Real Estate has arranged a lease renewal and expansion for Dale & Gensburg P.C. at 200 W. Adams in Chicago. The Chicago-based law firm provides legal services to small and mid-sized businesses and individuals. The firm renewed its existing 4,033-square-foot lease on the 24th floor of the 32-story central Loop office property andexpanded by 1,470 square feet to accommodate its growing operations. Andrew Davidson and Christine Torres of MB Real Estate’s corporate services and tenant advisory group represented Dale & Gensburg in the lease negotiations. The building’s owner, Lincoln Property Co., was self-represented by Genny Emerson.
MOLINE, ILL. — Sam’s Club will open a new store this week in Moline in western Illinois. According to the Quad-City Business Journal, the 136,000-square-foot club is located at 6600 44th Ave. A grand opening ceremony will take place Thursday, Aug. 21. The store will feature a Sam’s Club pharmacy and optical center and offer its members discounts on produce, meats and other goods. The new membership warehouse club will bring 170 new jobs to the community. Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is the nation’s eighth largest retailer. The store offers products and services in more than 630 clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico.
CHICAGO — A new hotel, Hyatt The Loop Chicago, is set to open in February. Developer John Murphy is currently converting the historic office building, located at 100 W. Monroe St., into a hotel. Architect Frank Chase designed the building in 1927. Upon completion, the 22-story building will feature 257 guest rooms, 2,540 square feet of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, a new French restaurant, Cochon Volant Market, Bakery, Brasserie and Bar, and a rooftop bar. Integrated Clark Monroe LLC owns Hyatt The Loop Chicago. Interstate Hotels and Resorts, a U.S.-based global hotel management company, will operate the hotel. Hyatt The Loop Chicago will join five Hyatt-branded hotels in downtown Chicago, including Park Hyatt Chicago, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile, and Hyatt Place Chicago/River North.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. — NorthMarq Capital has arranged an $11 million loan for an undisclosed borrower to refinance Prairieview Shopping Center, a 114,646-square-foot retail property in Eden Prairie, approximately 17 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Patrick Minea of NorthMarq Capital’s Minneapolis office structured the loan with a 25-year term and 25-year amortization schedule. NorthMarq arranged financing through its correspondent relationship with Thrivent Financial.
OAK BROOK, ILL. — Rosemont, Ill.-based First Hospitality Group (FHG) Inc. will manage The Drake Oak Brook Hotel in Oak Brook, the suburban counterpart of Chicago’s famous Drake Hotel. Originally built in 1961, The Drake Oak Brook is currently closed and is undergoing a significant revitalization of the exterior, entrance, public space, office space and guest rooms. Under FHG’s management, the property will offer 80 guest rooms and 50 suites for long-term stays that are designated as Residences at the Drake. The renovation also includes 11,300 square feet of meeting space and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio overlooking the fountain, along with several ballrooms and meeting rooms. The Drake Oak Brook Hotelis scheduled to reopen as an independent hotel this fall. The hotel is in close proximity to O’Hare International Airport and more than five luxury golf resorts. The Drake Oak Brook joins 20 other Illinois hotels in FHG’s growing national management portfolio.
BANNOCKBURN, ILL. — NAI Hiffman has won the assignment to manage and lease a 210,000-square-foot, Class A office asset located at 3000 Lakeside Drive in Bannockburn, 30 miles north of Chicago. Bannockburn Corporate Center, located directly off the intersection of Half Day Road and I-94, is currently 62 percent occupied. The building includes indoor executive parking, ample natural light and adjoining blocks of available space. Linda Garske and Jason Wurtz with NAI Hiffman’s leasing team will market existing and upcoming availabilities at the property. The assignment of Bannockburn Corporate Center comes after NAI Hiffman won the assignment to manage and lease the 486,000-square-foot Naperville Woods Office Center in Naperville, Ill. With the two properties added to its portfolio, NAI Hiffman leases and manages more than 56.6 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space in the Chicagoland region.