LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has agreed to sell its Bellagio and Circus Circus resort assets on the Las Vegas Strip in two different transactions for a combined price of approximately $5 billion. Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT) will acquire Bellagio in a $4.25 billion sale-leaseback deal. As part of the transaction, BREIT and MGM will form a joint venture ownership agreement, with BREIT owning 95 percent. MGM will continue to lease, manage and operate the property, with an initial annual rent of $245 million. MGM also agreed to sell its Circus Circus Las Vegas resort to an affiliate of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino owner Phil Ruffin for $825 million. Both sales are expected to close by the end of 2019. “We will use the proceeds from [these transactions] to build a fortress balance sheet and return capital to shareholders,” says Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “These transactions enhance the company’s strategic and operational flexibility and reinforce its commitment to targeted new growth opportunities, including securing and investing in one of the integrated resort licenses in Japan and becoming an industry leader in sports betting in the U.S.” The sale-leaseback deal …
Retail
SPARKS, NEV. — CIRE Equity has purchased Sparks Galleria, a grocery-anchored retail center located in Sparks, a suburb of Reno. Pine Tree Commercial Realty sold the asset for $40.6 million. Anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market and Marshalls/HomeGoods, Sparks Galleria features 212,647 square feet of retail space. Additional tenants include Starbucks Coffee, Qdoda Mexican Eats, See’s Candies and Kay Jewelers. Colliers International, in collaboration with Newmark Knight Frank, represented the seller in the deal.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — JLL has negotiated the $23.3 million sale of The Shoppes at Southside, a 112,613-square-foot retail center in southern Jacksonville. The property was fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including anchors Best Buy and Urban Air Trampoline, as well as Adventure Park, David’s Bridal, Cold Stone Creamery, Deerwood Jewelers, Moe’s Southwest Grill and three separate parcels leased to Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Aspen Dental. Situated on 12.9 acres at 9930-9990 Southside Blvd., the center is located 14 miles south of downtown Jacksonville. Brad Peterson, Whitaker Leonhardt and Michael Brewster of JLL represented the seller, Brixmor Property Group, in the transaction. Core Investment Management acquired the property.
PHILADELPHIA — Victory Brewing Co. will open a 14,000-square-foot brewery and taproom in the Logan Square neighborhood of Philadelphia’s Center City. The facility will feature a production brewing system, kitchen, three bars, street-level outdoor seating and a rooftop patio. Victory’s first location in Downingtown opened in 1996, and the company operates two other locations in Parkesburg and Kennett Square. The Philadelphia brewery will function as a new flagship taproom as well as an innovation hub for new beers. Local development firm Pearl Properties owns the building, and Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel is designing the facility in collaboration with Victory. The facility is slated to open in late 2020.
PHILADELPHIA AND EWING, NEW JERSEY — Dallas-based fast casual restaurant Wingstop has signed retail leases in Philadelphia and Ewing, New Jersey. Wingstop will open a 1,650-square-foot store in Philadelphia’s Morrell Plaza, a 103,251-square-foot retail center with tenants including ShopRite and T-Mobile. The company will also open a 2,200-square-foot store in Ewing, New Jersey’s Capitol Plaza, a 354,993-square-foot shopping center with tenants including Marshalls, Dollar Tree and Planet Fitness. David Dunkelman of Soloff Realty & Development Inc. represented Wingstop in the Philadelphia negotiations, and Sidney Singer of Levin Management Corp. (LMC) represented the landlord. Marta Villa of JLL represented Wingstop in the Ewing negotiations , and Andrea Kyriacou of LMC represented the landlord.
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — JLL has brokered the sale of Vintage Plaza, a 40,612-square-foot retail center. The property is located within the 330-acre La Frontera master-planned development in Round Rock, a northern suburb of Austin. Built in 2003, the asset was approximately 93 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants such as Men’s Wearhouse, Bamboo Nails & Spa and Burn Boot Camp. Cathy Nabours, Walter Saad, Kyle Shaffer and Josh Villarreal of JLL represented the seller, Ironwood Real Estate, in the transaction. SITE Centers Corp. purchased the asset for an undisclosed price.
Konover South Acquires Land Near Charlotte Premium Outlets, Plans 32,000 SF Retail Center
by Alex Tostado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Konover South LLC has acquired a six-acre parcel for $4.8 million with plans to develop a 32,000-square-foot retail center. Located near Charlotte Premium Outlets, Freeman Retail Crossing will include a national steak restaurant, banking, mobile services and healthcare tenants. Konover South plans to break ground in early 2020 and expects to deliver Freeman Retail Crossing in the second quarter of 2021. The land is located on Steele Creek Road near I-485 in southwestern Charlotte.
CAPE CORAL, FLA. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $14.3 million sale of Towers I and Towers II, a 72,453-square-foot retail property in Cape Coral. The asset, located at 2612-2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., was 89 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Firehouse Subs, Sylvan Learning of Cape Coral, Anytime Fitness, Sumaq Peruvian Cuisine Bar & Grill and Tony’s Jewelry. Jim Shiebler, James Garner and James Medefind of Marcus & Millichap represented both the buyer, a private investor, and the seller, a personal trust, in the transaction.
GLENDALE, ARIZ. — SRS Real Estate Partners’ Investment Properties Group has arranged the sale of Glendale Galleria, a neighborhood shopping center located at 5880 W. Peoria Ave. in Glendale. Brixmor Property Group sold the asset to a Florida-based private investor for an undisclosed price in a 1031 exchange. Built in 1989/1990 and renovated in 2018, the 119,525-square-foot property is situated on 12.7 acres. At the time of sale, the shopping center was 87 percent occupied by major tenants including LA Fitness, Sears Outlet, Synergy Gymnastics and TitleMax Title Loans. Additionally, the asset has four outparcels, which were not part of the sale. Outparcel tenants include Applebee’s, Arby’s, a car wash and Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant. Chris Tramontano and John Redfield of SRS represented the seller in the deal.
PHILADELPHIA — Cedar Realty Trust is underway on construction of Fishtown Crossing, a retail redevelopment project in the Olde Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. The project will convert a shopping center formerly known as Port Richmond Village into an 18,000-square-foot neighborhood center. The property currently houses more than 20 tenants, including grocer IGA, vitamin and supplement retailer GNC and footwear retailer Kicks USA, while tenants that have preleased space at the new center will include Starbucks and ‘50s-themed diner Nifty Fifty’s. Construction of Fishtown Crossing is slated for completion by early 2021.