ILLINOIS — In order to maximize COVID-19 containment, on Friday, March 20, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide “shelter in place” directive in effect until Tuesday, April 7. Under this order, only “essential” businesses and employees are allowed to leave their homes. First responders, emergency management personnel, law enforcement personnel, healthcare workers and others working to support essential businesses and essential government functions like grocery stores and pharmacies are exempt from the order. In addition, local government units across the state are ordered to halt all evictions and ban gatherings of more than 10 people. On Sunday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 296 new cases of coronavirus disease in the state and three deaths. The total number of cases in Illinois has risen to 1,049 cases within 30 counties.
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.”
FORT WAYNE, IND. — As a result of COVID-19, Vera Bradley Inc. has temporarily closed all of its full-line and factory stores through Thursday, April 2. Store associates will be compensated through that date. The Fort Wayne-based handbag retailer will continue to serve its customers through its website. Vera Bradley also postponed its annual outlet sale, traditionally slated for April in Fort Wayne. The company says it is also “addressing day-to-day operations, including reducing expenses, inventory levels and capital spending.”
CHICAGO — First Western Properties has brokered the sale of an 11-unit multifamily building located at 1712-1716 W. 87th St. in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. The sales price was undisclosed. The property includes 10 paved parking spaces. Paul Tsakiris and Melsi Bifsha of First Western brokered the transaction. Buyer and seller information was not disclosed.
CHICAGO —Much Shelist is among the first law firms to donate to the Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund, a new initiative by the city of Chicago to support local businesses devastated by the COVID-19 crisis. Much, a full-service law firm, has donated $25,000. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the fund Thursday, March 19. It will provide targeted, low-interest loans to highly impacted small businesses. Much has called Chicago home for 50 years.
CHICAGO — Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity, will relocate its headquarters to 161 North Clark in Chicago. The 61,324-square-foot lease represents a 32 percent expansion for the nonprofit, which will move from 35 E. Wacker when the new lease commences in the fourth quarter. Mindy Saffer of Cresa and Rob Schmidt of JLL represented Feeding America in the lease transaction. Newmark Knight Frank represented the landlord. The 50-story office tower is situated in Chicago’s Central Loop and features a conference center and outdoor terrace.
ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — The Boulder Group has brokered the $18.6 million sale of a single-tenant property net leased to Jewel-Osco in Romeoville, located about 30 miles southwest of Chicago. The 67,507-square-foot building sits on 7.5 acres at 20 S. Weber Road. Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman of Boulder represented the seller, a Southwest-based private real estate investment company. A West Coast-based private investor purchased the asset in a 1031 tax-deferred exchange. Jewel-Osco has operated at the property since 2002 and recently executed a 20-year lease.
FORT DODGE, IOWA — Mason Asset Management, Namdar Realty Group and CH Capital Group have sold Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge in central Iowa. The sales price was $3.3 million. The buyer, Crossroads Plaza Development LLC, plans to redevelop the mall into a series of retail and office spaces. The site will also include a new, five-story hotel. Fort Dodge City Council unanimously passed the redevelopment plan and committed up to $18.2 million of public funds to support construction.
EVANSVILLE, IND. — Old National Bank will temporarily shift to appointment-only banking at all branch locations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The practice will enable staff to clean and disinfect surfaces after each visit. The drive-thru will remain open at all locations and hours of operation will not change. Appointments will be available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with the first hour of each day reserved for persons age 60 or older and others who are a high risk to contract the coronavirus. Old National Bancorp, the holding company of Old National Bank, is the largest bank holding company headquartered in the state of Indiana.
FORT WAYNE, IND. — Sturges Property Group has arranged the sale of a 12,000-square-foot, single-tenant industrial building located at 6821 Metro Park Drive in Fort Wayne for an undisclosed price. John Caffray of Sturges represented the seller, Duncan Supply Co. Inc., as well as the buyer, Peakway Investment Group LLC. Indianapolis-based Duncan is a heating equipment supplier.