Miami is coming into its own as an increasingly international city that continues to attract new residents, visitors and investment and development activity. The city’s urban core is flourishing, with residents gravitating toward a downtown area that allows them to live, work and play in the same neighborhood. The Miami retail market is experiencing a development surge to accommodate the city’s growth. Through the end of the first quarter of 2016, about 2.3 million square feet of retail space was under construction, according to CoStar. The developments are bringing a new class of retailers to the market. Major projects include Brickell City Centre, a 500,000-square-foot shopping center with a roster of tenants that includes Armani Collezioni, anchor tenant Saks Fifth Avenue and Valentino. North of downtown Miami, the $1.7 billion Miami Worldcenter project will introduce a high-street retail concept that is similar to the popular Lincoln Road open-air mall in Miami Beach. In Miami’s Design District, the $1 billion redevelopment of the neighborhood is attracting luxury retailers like Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Downtown residents will have easy access to all of these retail destinations. Retail operating fundamentals remain strong in the Miami market. Vacancies closed the first quarter of …
PASADENA, TEXAS — Colliers International represented John Harris Ventures LP in the sale of Fairmont Central Shopping Center, located at 4118 Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena. Marshall Clinkscales of Colliers represented John Harris Ventures. Bill Pyle with Edge Realty Capital Markets and Ray Orazani of Main Realty represented the buyer, Fairmont Central LLC. Bill Barnett with Charter Title Co. handled the closing.
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS — Bright Realty has brokered the lease for a new Texas Rug Gallery in Southlake. The 6,082-square-foot retail space will be at Cornerstone Plaza on East Southlake Boulevard and Nolan Road. Mason Bakken and Britton Lankford of Bright Realty represented the landlord, BTR-8 Southlake LLC, in the lease transaction.
DALLAS — The Vitorino Group has brokered the sale of an Empire Petroleum gas station and convenience store in Grapevine. The single-tenant, net-leased asset is located on State Highway 121 just north of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The Vitorino Group acted as an intermediary between a local Dallas owner and a private, Dallas-based REIT. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
YORBA LINDA, CALIF. — Thorofare Capital has funded a $15 million floating-rate commercial mortgage for a 60,740-square-foot retail property in Yorba Linda. Kevin Miller and Felix Gutnikov of Thorofare arranged the acquisition, CapEx and TI/LC facility financing for the undisclosed borrower.
LOS ANGELES — Benchmark Contractors, a subsidiary of Morley Builders, has completed the construction of Blossom Plaza, located at the intersection of Broadway and College Street in downtown Los Angeles. Situated directly north of the Gold Line’s Chinatown Station, the plaza serves as the main pathway through Blossom’s Cultural Plaza and commercial arcade. Blossom features 237 apartment units in three five-story structures with 19,000 square feet of retail space over parking for 453 cars. Forest City developed the project, which Johnson Fair and Togawa Smith Martin designed. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification.
SAN DIEGO — The ONE Group is opening its San Diego version of STK at Andaz San Diego, located at 600 F St. in downtown San Diego. Occupying the space of the long-shuttered Katsuya, the modern steakhouse/club will feature an updated design and menu options from the brand’s original STK concept. The restaurant will feature a variety of food offerings, ranging from shellfish platters and raw bar dishes to various steaks, and entertainment including nightly DJs.
KISSIMMEE, FLA. — The Hampshire Cos. has acquired The Crosslands, a 529,300-square-foot power center located in Kissimmee, for $121 million. The 98 percent leased center is home to tenants including The Fresh Market, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress For Less, Marshall’s, Home Goods, Forever 21, Burlington Coat Factory, 24 Hour Fitness and Academy Sports + Outdoors. The property was acquired from a partnership between O’Connor Capital Partners and Tupperware Brands Corp. O’Connor recently completed development on The Crosslands, and will retain an interest in the center as well as leasing and property management responsibilities.
JACKSON, MISS. — Newk’s Eatery, a fast-casual restaurant chain based in Jackson, has signed a 10-unit development agreement in Virginia with Red Alpha Holding LLC, a long-time Five Guys Burgers & Fries multi-unit operator. The northern Virginia-based operator will open 10 locations in Fairfax and Arlington counties over the next six years. Red Alpha will open the first location next year, marking the chain’s entry into Virginia. Now in its 12th year of business, Newk’s Eatery serves made-from-scratch sandwiches, salads, soups and pizzas. Red Alpha Holding is the third multi-unit franchisee to sign with Newk’s Eatery in 2016. Combined, the new franchisees will open more than 30 new restaurants in the next four years, consistent with the company’s goal to reach 200 units by 2019.
CINCINNATI —Macy’s Inc. has announced that the company plans to close approximately 100 stores beginning in early 2017. This number constitutes roughly 15 percent of Macy’s current portfolio of 675 full-line stores. Specifics on the locations set to close will be announced at a later date. Cincinnati-based Macy’s intends to improve the stores that will remain in its portfolio by adding new vendor shops and bringing new businesses onto the sales floors through additional license agreements; increasing the size and quality of staffing through programs including “My Stylist” personal shopping services; infusing new technology; and creating new in-store events and experiences. The company also intends to invest in building the capacity of its websites and apps to create a faster, simpler interface for customers. Over the past six years, approximately 90 Macy’s stores have been closed and 13 new stores have been opened.