Midwest

Express

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Fashion retailer Express Inc. (OTCMKTS: EXPR) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced plans to close 107 of its 602 stores. The Columbus-based company’s portfolio includes apparel brands such as Bonobos, Express and UpWest Express. As part of the proceedings, 95 stores under the company’s Express banner will be shuttered alongside all 12 of its UpWest Express locations. Express has been battling with soft consumer demand due to slowing spending patterns and increased price sensitivity in discretionary categories, according to Reuters. Further details on the specific locations set for closure were not provided, but closing sales at the impacted locations are anticipated to begin tomorrow, April 23. Business at all other brick-and-mortar locations and online is expected to continue as usual. Express concurrently announced that it has received a non-binding letter of intent from a consortium of investors led by WHP Global to acquire a substantial majority of the company’s retail stores and operations. The investment group includes an indirect subsidiary of Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties. WHP Global, which purchased a controlling stake in the parent company of Toys ‘R’ Us in 2021, has held 7.4 percent ownership in Express Inc. since January 2023.  …

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WEST CHESTER, OHIO — Graycor Construction Co. has completed a 125,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store in West Chester near Cincinnati. The store is located at 5951 Bass Pro Drive at the intersection of I-75 and Allen Road. The development includes a fire watch tower, archery range, aquarium, exterior decorative water feature and boat showroom. Torgerson Design Partners was the architect. Graycor has now completed seven Bass Pro Shops.

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OMAHA, NEB. — Darland Construction Co. has completed a more than 61,000-square-foot warehouse near the intersection of Highway 50 and I-80 in Omaha. The building features a clear height of 26 feet, eight dock doors and interstate signage. Preliminary budgeting for the project began in 2018, but concerns about rising prices and labor shortages during the pandemic put the project on hold, according to Darland. Investors Realty negotiated a full-building lease for Southern Carlson before the building was completed. The tenant is a commercial tool, fastener and jobsite supply company.  

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URBANDALE, IOWA — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of an Urban Heights Storage facility in Urbandale near Des Moines for an undisclosed price. The 54,095-square-foot self-storage property, built in 2020, features 257 climate-controlled units, 95 drive-up units, 51 indoor units and 28 parking spaces. George Kondracke, Brian Kelly, Brett Hatcher, Gabriel Coe and Nathan Coe of Marcus & Millichap, in partnership with Brad Vander Linden of The Linden Co., represented the seller, a limited liability company. Buyer information was not provided.

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ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — Venture One Real Estate, through its acquisition fund VK Industrial VI LP, has acquired a 38,409-square-foot industrial building in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville. Located at 1280 Lakeview Drive, the property is fully leased to one tenant. Constructed in 1995 and situated on three acres, the building features a clear height of 24 feet, two exterior docks, one drive-in door and parking for 52 cars. Terri Alexander and Michael Kraft of Transwestern represented the undisclosed seller. VK Industrial VI is co-sponsored by Venture One and Kovitz Investment Group.

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MENTOR, OHIO — The Cooper Commercial Investment Group has arranged the $2 million sale of a single-tenant property occupied by Starbucks in Mentor, a northeast suburb of Cleveland. Constructed in 2022, the building features a drive-thru. Dan Cooper of Cooper Group represented the seller, a private investment group based in Ohio. The 1031 exchange buyer purchased the asset at a cap rate of 5.74 percent. There are approximately eight years remaining on the 10-year lease.

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COMMERCIAL POINT, OHIO — Colliers has brokered the sale of Rickenbacker Exchange Building 2 in metro Columbus for $94.1 million. The 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center is located at 521 Exchange Way in Commercial Point. VanTrust Real Estate developed the building, which was fully leased to Hanesbrands Inc. prior to its completion in 2022. The property, located within the 875-acre Rickenbacker Exchange at Commercial Point industrial park, features a clear height of 40 feet, four drive-in doors, 120 docks and 728 parking spaces. Alex Cantu and Alex Davenport of Colliers brokered the transaction. VanTrust sold the asset to W. P. Carey Inc.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Developer Sherman Associates has completed Ladder 260, a $34 million affordable housing development located at 260 Portland Ave. in the Mill District neighborhood of Minneapolis. Kraus-Anderson was the general contractor for the multi-phase project, which involved the redevelopment of an underutilized city block at Washington and Portland avenues. The first phase of the $161 million development involved a new $12 million fire station for the City of Minneapolis. The final phase, called O2, is a 22-story, 240-unit apartment tower that is slated for completion this fall. Designed by ESG Architects, Ladder 260 rises six stories with 90 units. Amenities include a fitness room, second-floor lounge, rooftop deck, bike storage and pet spa.

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NEW LENOX AND JOLIET, ILL. — Northern Builders will serve as developer and general contractor for two industrial build-to-suits at Cherry Hill Business Park in New Lenox and Joliet. Agile Cold Storage will occupy a 202,759-square-foot facility on nearly 24 acres with expansion capabilities for an additional 150,000 square feet. The building is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2025. Illinois Truck Group (ITG) will utilize a 33,180-square-foot property as a truck maintenance and dealership facility. The project calls for nine maintenance bays, one wash bay, 5,000 square feet of office space and parking for 200 tractor cabs. Straddling both Joliet and New Lenox, Cherry Hill Business Park is located between I-55 and I-57 with immediate access to I-80 and I-355.

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WYOMING, MICH. — Cherry Health and Woda Cooper Cos. Inc. have partnered to build Shea Ravines, a 56-unit affordable housing community in Wyoming near Grand Rapids. Michigan State Housing Development Authority has awarded housing tax credits for the $18.2 million development. The project will be located at 2929 Burlingame Ave. SW adjacent to Cherry Health’s Wyoming Community Health Center. The four-story building will offer one- and two-bedroom units for residents who earn up to 80 percent of the area median income. Of the 56 units, 20 will be reserved for people battling homelessness. Amenities will include a multipurpose room, playground and bike storage.   The Grand Rapids Housing Commission has awarded project-based rental assistance vouchers to support the 20 units for homelessness. Community Rebuilders will serve as the lead service agency to coordinate supportive services to assist these residents. The project team includes architect Hooker DeJong Inc. Woda Construction Inc. is the general contractor and Woda Management & Real Estate LLC will perform leasing and property management services.

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