INDIO, CALIF. — Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is set to open its 100th California location. Dickey’s already has more than 530 locations in 43 states. After Texas, California has the most Dickey’s locations. Owner/operators Michael and Margarita Tucker currently own the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location in La Quinta and have signed a development agreement to open three more stores in Indio, Moreno Valley and Redlands in 2016.
Despite a bump in big-box inventory in the wake of the A&P bankruptcy, the New Jersey retail real estate market continues to gain strength. Leasing activity remains robust, with strong suburban markets augmented by heightened urban activity. The inventory of properties for sale remains tight, while new development is highlighted by large-scale projects. This year’s major headline has been A&P’s bankruptcy. The sell-off of the grocer’s stores is ongoing, with Stop & Shop and Acme key bidders. Still, the stores remaining unsold are forcing landlords to think outside the box and/or redevelop their shopping centers, providing the opportunity to improve tenant mix and increase lease rates. Meanwhile, these immediate opportunities could slow down nearby projects in the works, including developments that could have come out of the ground in 2016 or 2017. Hot markets include Paramus, a perennial favorite. Also in the north, the redevelopment of Wayne Town Center has attracted Costco, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and ULTA. In Bridgewater, Whole Foods signed a lease at Bridgewater Crossing, and negotiations are progressing with several major off-price and full-price specialty retailers. In Union County, Clark Commons opened with Whole Foods, LA Fitness, Home Goods, Michaels, Petco, ULTA, …
KATY, TEXAS — Preparations are underway to launch a new concept of Hungry’s Café & Bistro, a dining venue with locations around Houston. Neima Sharifi and Sherbim Sharifi, nephews of Hungry’s original founder, are planning a mid-March opening for Local Table by Hungry’s in Villagio Town Center, where the company has leased 4,558 square feet of restaurant space. The Sharifi brothers have leased the last retail vacancy in Villagio Town Center, which is located at 22756 Westheimer Parkway in Katy. The 107,119-square-foot project’s office component is nearly 100 percent leased, with just 2,000 square feet of shell space available. Rachael Keener of NewQuest Properties represented the landlord, Villagio Investment Holdings, and also served as Hungry’s tenant representative. The prototype restaurant will include an inside bar plus a patio that opens to the courtyard. The Local Table site search had concentrated on Katy and The Woodlands. Local Table will include take-out and delivery service at lunch and casual dinner dining.
STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Walters Group is constructing a Five Below store at Stafford Park Shopping Center in Stafford Township. Slated for completion by mid-2016, the 8,176-square-foot retail space will be leased to Five Below under a 10-year contract. The 400,000-square-foot Stafford Park Shopping Center is occupied by Costco, Target, PetSmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Olive Garden, AT&T, The Vitamin Shoppe and Ulta Beauty, among others. Walters Group developed the center in 2008.
KEENE, N.H. — Brady Sullivan Properties has signed leases with five new tenants at its Colony Mill Marketplace and Center at Colony Mill in Keene. Curry Restaurant, Southern NH Services and Bruce Carey Insurance opened a total of 3,600 square feet at Colony Mill Marketplace, while Adecco and Prospect Place joined Center at Colony Mill with a total of 2,500 square feet. Benjamin Kelley and Charles Panasis of Brady Sullivan Properties brokered the transactions.
ITHACA, N.Y. — STREAM Capital Partners has arranged the sale of a 2,480-square-foot two-tenant retail property in Ithaca. A private investor purchased the property for $640,000 at a 6.25 percent cap rate. The property was under a short-term existing ground lease to the current tenants, Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery. Susan Harris of STREAM Capital Partners represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
LAS VEGAS — AW Family Trust has acquired Durango Springs Plaza, a 15,800-square-foot retail center in Las Vegas, for $8.3 million. The center is located at 8520, 8530, 8550 W. Warm Springs Road. Chris Emanuel and John Blommer of Virtus Commercial represented the seller, DSP 1 LLC, in this transaction.
PHOENIX — Scooter’s Coffee has announced plans to add new coffee shops to four states, which includes Phoenix, Ariz. Other states receiving outposts include Florida, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Once these locations are open, Scooter’s will have more than 130 stores in 14 states. It plans to open 25 new locations in the first half of 2016.
INDIAN LAND, S.C. — MPV Properties has broken ground on RedStone, a retail development located in Indian Land. Phase I of the property will feature a 14-screen Stone Theatre and 54,900 square feet of retail shop space. Upon completion, the shopping center will total 310,000 square feet. The property will be situated at the intersection of Highway 521 and Highway 160 in northern Lancaster County. MPV’s team for the RedStone project includes developer Mike Bilodeau and leasing agent Keely (Simerville) Hines.
GAINESVILLE, FLA. — The first 365 by Whole Foods Market announced for the state of Florida is set to anchor Butler Town Center, a 350,000-square-foot mixed-use addition to Butler Plaza located in Gainesville. The shopping center is located at the Archer Road (State Road 24) exit of I-75. The 365 by Whole Foods Market is scheduled to open in advance of the Town Center, which is set to open in 2018. Butler Town Center will consist of retail, restaurant, hospitality and multifamily components upon completion. The new 365 by Whole Foods Market concept will offer shoppers low prices on natural and organic products that meet Whole Foods Market’s standards for quality.
