US Retail Sales Rise 1.9 Percent in September, Beating Economists’ Expectations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Retail sales increased 1.9 percent month-over-month in September, the U.S. Commerce Department reports. The most recent figure is 70 basis points higher than what economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast. Total sales reached $549.3 billion in September, which marked the fifth consecutive month of retail sales growth amid the coronavirus pandemic. In February, the total monthly spending reached $527 billion.According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the …

October 19, 2020District of Columbia, Retail, Southeast

Whole Foods Market to Open 47,000 SF Store in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 28

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Whole Foods Market will open a 47,000-square-foot store in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The new location will be situated at 501 SE 17th St., two miles south of downtown Fort Lauderdale and within CURV, Ram Realty’s 243-unit multifamily community. The store will include a coffee bar featuring cold-brew, nitro tea, wine and beer. This will be Whole Foods’ second Fort Lauderdale location, with the first being located at 2000 N. Federal …

October 19, 2020Development, Florida, Retail, Southeast

Boulder Group Brokers $6.2M Sale of Retail Property Leased to CVS in Rockwall, Texas

ROCKWALL, TEXAS — The Boulder Group has brokered the $6.2 million of a 11,421-square-foot single-tenant retail property leased to CVS Pharmacy in Rockwall, a northeastern suburb of Dallas. The seller was a real estate firm based in the Southwest, and the buyer was an investor based on the East Coast that acquired the asset via a 1031 exchange. Randy Blankstein and Jimmy Goodman of The Boulder Group represented both parties in the

October 19, 2020Acquisitions, Retail, Texas

CVS to Hire 15,000 Employees in Anticipation of Greater COVID-19, Flu Cases

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS (NYSE: CVS) intends to hire 15,000 new employees during the fourth quarter in anticipation of communities seeing greater incidences of COVID-19 and the flu during the upcoming winter months. More than 10,000 of these positions are for full- and part-time licensed pharmacy technicians, some of which will be offered on temporary bases with the possibility of becoming permanent. Rhode Island-based CVS is also recruiting qualified candidates to work as pharmacists, nurses, …

October 19, 2020Company News, Northeast, Retail, Rhode Island

Planet Fitness Signs 20,000 SF Retail Lease at Mayfair Shopping Center on Long Island

COMMACK, N.Y. — Planet Fitness has signed a 20,000-square-foot retail lease at Mayfair Shopping Center, a 221,000-square-foot power center located in the Long Island city of Commack. A 60,000-square-foot Best Market grocery store anchors the property, which also houses tenants such as Rite Aid, Capital One Bank, Sherwin-Williams and Verizon Wireless. E.J. Moawad of New Jersey-based Levin Management Corp. represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Jack Chera of Crown …

October 19, 2020Leasing Activity, New Jersey, Northeast, Retail

Partnership Buys Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, Illinois

FORSYTH, ILL. — A New York-based partnership between Mason Asset Management, Namdar Realty Group and CH Capital Group has acquired Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, about 45 miles east of Springfield. The 826,347-square-foot mall opened in 1978. Anchor tenants include Kohl’s, Von Maur, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Ulta Beauty and Ross Dress for Less. Eastdil brokered the transaction. CBL & Associates was the seller, according to local media reports. Elliot Nassim, president of Mason Asset …

October 19, 2020Acquisitions, Illinois, Midwest, Retail

Marcus & Millichap Arranges Sale of 114,249 SF Retail Center in Mount Olive, New Jersey

MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the sale of Mount Olive Parkade, a 114,249-square-foot retail center located about 50 miles west of New York City. The property sold for $6 million. Michael Lombardi and Steven Schiavello of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and secured the buyer in the transaction. Both parties were limited liability companies that requested

October 16, 2020Acquisitions, New Jersey, Northeast, Retail

Stan Johnson Brokers $6M Sale of New Retail Building Leased to Harbor Freight Tools in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Stan Johnson Co. has brokered the $6 million sale of a 16,000-square-foot, freestanding retail building leased to Harbor Freight Tools in Fort Worth. The property was built in 2020 and is located at 3569 Northwest Centre Drive. Mike Sladich, Joey Odom, Maggie Holmes and Mollie Alteri of Stan Johnson Co. represented the seller, a developer based in South Carolina. Jimmy Ullrich, also with Stan Johnson Co., represented the South Florida-based 1031 exchange buyer. The asset …

October 16, 2020Acquisitions, Retail, Texas

Detroit Casinos Report 21.7 Percent Drop in September Revenues

DETROIT — September aggregate revenue for slots and table games at Detroit’s three casinos was down 21.7 percent compared with September 2019, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The casinos reported $87.9 million in revenue while continuing to operate at 15 percent capacity due to COVID-19 health concerns. MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino reopened Aug. 5 while MGM Grand reopened Aug. 7. For the third quarter, the casinos’ aggregate revenue of $157.3 million was down 55.2 …

October 16, 2020Michigan, Midwest, Retail

Marijuana-Themed Sandwich Shop Cheba Hut to Open First Location in Illinois on Oct. 19

CHICAGO — Cheba Hut will open its first Illinois location in Chicago’s Wicker Park on Monday, Oct. 19. The marijuana-themed sandwich shop is located at 1948 W. Division St. The “toasted” sub shop offers over 30 signature sub sandwiches, as well as a variety of treats, salads and munchies and a full-service bar. Drinks like the Dirty Hippie, Hot Box and Cheba Rita are all Cheba Hut signatures. The restaurant will enforce current COVID-19 guidelines, including heightened sanitation …

October 16, 2020Illinois, Leasing Activity, Midwest, Restaurant, Retail