ATLANTA — Atlanta-based Peachtree Hotel Group has purchased 10 hotels in the Southeast and Midwest for a combined $183 million. Four hotels are under contract for acquisition and the other six properties are in various stages of development. PHG’s management arm will operate all 10 hotels upon closing, which is expected within the next 60 days. The four properties under contract for acquisition span nearly 600 rooms and include two Hampton Inns, an Aloft and a DoubleTree conversion. The six hotels under development represent nearly 700 rooms across four states and include Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Starwood brand affiliations. Peachtree’s current portfolio comprises 65 hotel assets totaling 6,672 rooms.
HENDERSON AND NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEV. — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the sale of four grocery-anchored shopping centers located in Henderson and North Las Vegas. The properties, totaling 336,096 square feet, were sold in four transactions to individual buyers. Michael Hackett and Ryan Schubert of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Donahue Schriber Realty Group, in all four transactions. Assets include Smith’s Food and Drug Store-anchored Pebble Marketplace, Paseo Verde Plaza, Eldorado Plaza and Trader Joe’s-anchored Green Valley Plaza. The centers are home to tenants including Chase Bank, Jack in the Box, Starbucks Coffee, Dollar Tree and Big 5 Sporting Goods.
SLIDELL, LA. — Wells Fargo has provided a $73 million, 10-year loan for Fremaux Town Center, a roughly 635,000-square-foot open-air retail shopping center located at the southwest corner of I-10 and Fremaux Avenue in Slidell. Fremaux Town Center is currently 95 percent leased and jointly owned by affiliates of CBL & Associates Properties Inc. and Stirling Properties LLC. The borrowers used proceeds from the loan to retire two existing construction loans.
LAKE FOREST, CALIF. — Johnny Rockets plans to open 14 additional mall locations this year. In honor of its 30th anniversary, Johnny Rockets recently announced a brand refresh, which included a new restaurant design and logo. The new restaurant design, which was first introduced at Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse, N.Y., includes modern technology, a fresh design and enhanced staff uniforms. Since the refresh, the Destiny USA Mall location has experienced a nearly 22 percent growth in sales, according to the company. In addition to its mall franchise program, Johnny Rockets has expanded into outlet centers, which now attract more shoppers with higher-end retail stores and food offerings according to recent trends. The brand currently operates 18 outlet locations and is planning an additional five in the near future. Founded in 1986, Johnny Rockets operates more than 350 franchise and corporate locations in 28 countries around the world.
ATLANTA — Los Angeles-based sbe and Atlanta-based Trillist Cos. Inc. have partnered to develop the SLS Atlanta Hotel & Residences in Midtown Atlanta. The mixed-use tower will feature 213 hotel room and suites, 56 condominium residences, dining options and meeting spaces. Ranging in size from 1,600 to 4,000 square feet, the residences will feature a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom units. Trillist and sbe plan to break ground on the tower in early 2017 with completion slated for early 2019. Dakota Development, a subsidiary of sbe, will collaborate with Trillist on the property’s design and concept. SLS Atlanta Hotel & Residences will be situated near the Woodruff Arts Center, High Museum of Art, Midtown Mile and Piedmont Park.
SAVANNAH, GA. — CenterPoint Properties has signed Port Logistics Group Inc. to a long-term, 315,810-square-foot lease at 47 Sonny Perdue Drive in Savannah. The building is located within CenterPoint Intermodal Center near the Georgia Port Authority and the Norfolk Southern Dillard Yard. Situated on 26 acres, the property features 4,785 square feet of office space, 113 trailer parking positions, 50 exterior dock doors, 110 car parking spots, two drive-in doors and reinforced floor slabs. Port Logistics Group is a third-party logistics company that specializes in high-touch distribution for retailers and retail manufacturers through coastal gateway markets. John Simons of NAI Partners and Rex Benton of NAI Mopper Benton represented Port Logistics Group in the lease deal. John Neely and Danny Chase of Colliers International represented CenterPoint.
ATLANTA — GE Digital, a division of Boston-based General Electric, plans to establish its first global Digital Operations Center in Midtown Atlanta. The $3 million project is expected to create 250 jobs, including positions in system administration and engineering, full-stack operations and engineering and service desk operations. Ashley Morris of the Georgia Department of Economic Development represented the Global Commerce division in partnership with InvestAtlanta, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Power. GE plans to open similar hubs in Miami and Providence, R.I., that will support the company’s global infrastructure operations.
EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. — Amazon has unveiled plans to open two fulfillment centers in Edwardsville, approximately 30 miles northeast of St. Louis, Mo. The two facilities will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs. Each facility will span more than 700,000 square feet and be located where employees pick, pack and ship items. One building will specialize in handling larger items such as big-screen televisions, sports equipment and kayaks. The other building will handle smaller items such as books, toys and electronics.
BOLINGBROOK, ILL. — Peak Construction Corp. has broken ground on a four-story, 77,000-square-foot Marriott Residence Inn in Bolingbrook, approximately 30 miles south of Chicago. The hotel will feature 103 rooms, a swimming pool, outdoor patio with picnic area and a multi-purpose sports court. Hallmark Investment Corp. and Love Hotel Management Co. are overseeing the project. Norr Architects is providing architectural services, and Manhard Consulting Ltd. is the civil engineer. The project is slated for completion next spring.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. — Compatriot Capital Inc. has acquired Jonathan Holtzman’s remaining ownership interest in Village Green Holding, a privately held developer, owner and manager of apartment properties headquartered in Farmington Hills. Compatriot Capital and Village Green had been co-owners of the company since 2011. Holtzman stepped down as chairman and CEO but acquired a majority ownership in select apartment communities owned by Village Green. Village Green will retain its name and maintain its property management, acquisition and development business model. Village Green, established in 1919, manages $4.5 billion in real estate assets and approximately 40,000 units at more than 150 properties. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Compatriot directs the real estate investment strategy for Sammons Enterprises Inc., a global holding company with assets in excess of $71 billion.