SEATTLE — Seattle-based Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) has reported a 53 percent decrease in net sales from last year for the second quarter ended Aug. 1, reflecting temporary store closures due to COVID-19. The company experienced a second-quarter net loss of $255 million, which included after-tax COVID-19-related charges of $14 million, a decrease from net earnings of $141 million during the same period in fiscal 2019. While the reductions were in line with the company’s expectations, Nordstrom still managed to generate positive operating cash flow of more than $185 million, with total liquidity of $1.3 billion, through improved merchandise margins and significant overhead cost reductions. The company’s exceeded cash flow enabled it to pay down $300 million on its revolving line of credit. “At the onset of the pandemic, we focused on protecting and enhancing liquidity, and we successfully executed on these plans,” says Erik Nordstrom, chief executive office of Nordstrom. During the first quarter, Nordstrom reduced its inventory by more than 25 percent to mitigate markdowns and seasonal inventory and bring in newness for customers, resulting in second-quarter merchandise margin trends improving and exceeding expectations. In preparation for its yearly anniversary sale, which began August, the company increased inventory to …
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — Hodges Ward Elliott has brokered the purchase of The Georgian, a boutique hotel located in Santa Monica. BLVD Hospitality, Global Mutual and ESI acquired the asset for an undisclosed price. Built in 1933, The Georgian features 84 guest rooms and suites, ocean-view dining at the on-site Veranda Restaurant, event space and a 24-hour business center and fitness center. Tony Malk, Brett Katz, Diana Simpson and Jordan Kirkbride of Hodges Ward Elliott advised the buyer on the purchase and capitalization of the hotel. The undisclosed seller owned the property since 1991.
PHOENIX — Industrial Outdoor Ventures (IOV) has acquired a vacant industrial property located at 2600 W. McDowell Ave. in Phoenix. D. Thompson Properties sold the asset for an undisclosed price. Zoned A-1, the 42,297-square-foot facility features eight drive-thru repair bays, 10 drive-in repair bays, 5,000 square feet of office space, a 10,000-square-foot part storage/warehouse area and a 9.5-acre, fully paved and fenced storage yard. IOV plans to modernize the property with upgrades to all building systems, replace the old façade, perform roof repairs and partial roof replacement, implement new landscaping and mechanicals, renovate the office space, and add new interior and exterior lighting. IOV is a national real estate investment company focused exclusively on the acquisition, development and re-development of industrial service facilities. The company plans to market the renovated property for lease.
RIVERSIDE, CALIF. — Faris Lee Investments has arranged the sale of the ground lease for a retail property located at 1303 University Ave. in Riverside. An Idaho-based private developer sold the asset to a California-based family office for $4.3 million. Starbucks occupies the property, which is located near University of California Riverside, under a new 20-year lease term with three 10-year options to extend, including 10 percent rental increases. Don MacLellan, Rich Chichester and Phil Ramming of Faris Lee, along with Cypress Retail Group, represented the seller in the deal.
ARLINGTON, VA. — Discount grocer Lidl US plans to open 50 new stores in nine states on the East Coast by the end of 2021. Arlington, Va.-based Lidl US will invest $500 million and hire 2,000 employees as part of the expansion. The footprints of the new stores will include six in Georgia, one in South Carolina, five in North Carolina, seven in Virginia, 10 in Maryland, six in New York, 10 in New Jersey, one in Delaware and four in Pennsylvania. Germany-based Lidl currently operates 11,000 grocery stores in 32 countries.
NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Pizzuti Cos. has opened The Joseph, a 21-story, 297-room hotel in Nashville’s SoBro district. The hotel is part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection line. The hotel offers indoor and outdoor meeting space, a fitness center, spa and salon, rooftop lounge and restaurant Yolan. The Joseph, named after Pizzuti family patriarch Joseph Pizzuti, is located at 401 Koreans Blvd., less than one mile from downtown Nashville. Miami-based Arquitectonica designed the hotel. New York City-based INC Architecture & Design was the interior designer.
MIAMI — Asia Capital Real Estate (ACRE) has provided an $86.3 million refinancing loan for Yard 8, a 387-unit apartment complex in Midtown Miami. Borrower Wood Partners will use the permanent financing to refinance the construction loan. The Atlanta-based developer opened Yard 8 in May 2019. Daniel Jacobs of ACRE originated the loan on behalf of the borrower in an off-market transaction. The property offers studio to three-bedroom floor plans, which were 83 percent occupied at the time of refinancing. Communal amenities include a pool, sundeck, clubroom, fitness center, coffee bar, concierge service and a resident lounge. In addition, Wood Partners has implemented The Ground Floor Project, a series of events to promote local artists, musicians and dancers at the community. According to the Yard 8 website, there are not any events currently scheduled for The Ground Floor Project.
WINTER GARDEN, FLA. — Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC will develop Overture Hamlin, a 180-unit active adult seniors housing community in Winter Garden. The Charleston, S.C.-based developer expects to deliver the property in summer 2021. The Central Florida property will offer one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The community will feature a clubhouse with a private wine room, covered patio, pool, sun deck, dog park, community-friendly golf cart trails, fitness center, yoga studio, craft room, theater room and an activity lounge. The asset will be situated within Hamlin Town Center, 20 miles west of downtown Orlando.
GAINESVILLE, GA. — Beacon Real Estate Group has acquired 53 West, a 266-unit multifamily community in Gainesville, for $53.2 million. The property, which was delivered in 2019, offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Communal amenities include a clubhouse, resident lounge, fitness center, pool and a dog park. The complex is located at 1000 Woodacres Road, 49 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The community was 99 percent occupied at the time of sale. Mitch Sinberg and Scott Wadler of Berkadia originated a Freddie Mac acquisition loan on behalf of the Coral Gables, Fla.-based buyer. Terms of the loan were not disclosed. Robert Stickel, Tyler Averitt and Alex Brown of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Varden Capital Properties and Tellus Partners, in the transaction.
PITTSBURGH — Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) recorded its highest quarterly earnings in company history for its fiscal second quarter, which ended on Aug. 1. The company reported $276.8 million in consolidated net income and boosted its earnings per share by 155 percent relative to the second quarter of 2019, rising from $1.26 per share in 2019 to $3.21 per share in 2020. The Pittsburgh-based retailer cited booming e-commerce sales, which rose by 194 percent year over year, as a key driver in the company’s growth. In addition, Dick’s noted that through the first three weeks of the third quarter, same-store sales have already increased by 11 percent compared to that period in 2019. Dick’s has also opened several new stores in recent weeks, including two in Massachusetts and one in New Jersey, as well as a combined Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy store in Georgia. The company’s stock price opened at $47.70 per share on Wednesday, Aug. 26, up from $32.62 per share a year ago.