The Jacksonville and North Florida retail markets are seeing an increase and influx in new investment activity. Analysts are watching the volume, vacancy rate and new construction, and all signs point to a seller’s market, but compared with other Florida cities, the cap rate and the opportunities are still attractive to retail investors. What sets Jacksonville apart from other cities in Florida and across the country is the area’s strong employment growth and the amount of developable land still available. The rate of employment in Jacksonville is growing at double the national average. In addition, the city continues to attract back-office facilities for major banks and for Amazon, and its seaport is busier than ever. Housing also continues to boom in areas like Northern St. Johns County. According to third-quarter 2017 analyst reports, Jacksonville’s retail vacancy rate went down slightly from 4.6 percent in the previous quarter to 4.5 percent, or 93.5 million total square feet. Absorption totaled 710,101 square feet through the first three quarters of 2017, with about 590,000 square feet ready for occupancy or delivered, and 700,109 square feet under construction. Retail Tenant Shift Nationally, we saw stalled volume of sales during the downturn along with declining …
Retail
SANTA ROSA AND NOVATO, CALIF. — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the sales of two shopping centers in Northern California for a combined value of $47 million. Dan Wald and Don LeBuhn of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the sale of a 49,990-square-foot shopping center in Santa Rosa on behalf of the seller, SPI Holdings. T.J. Maxx and Staples anchor the center. Terry Daly of Cushman & Wakefield arranged acquisition financing for the property on behalf of the buyer, a private capital partnership, who acquired the asset through a 1031 exchange. In the second transaction, Wald and LeBuhn arranged the sale of Pacheco Plaza Shopping Center, a 66,619-square-foot retail center in Novato, on behalf of the seller and original developer. The buyer was not disclosed. Nugget Market anchors Pacheco Plaza Shopping Center, which was 92 percent leased at the time of sale to Chase Bank and 20 other retail and restaurant tenants.
WHITTIER, CALIF. — CBRE has arranged the $40 million sale of Friendly Hills Marketplace, an 89,826-square-foot shopping center in Whittier, located 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Philip Voorhees, Kirk Brummer, James Tyrrell, Megan Wood, Preston Fetrow and Jim Leary of CBRE arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller and property developer, Oppidan Inc. Golden Capital Whittier LLC acquired the asset. Bruce Francis and Shaun Moothart of CBRE arranged acquisition financing on behalf of the buyer. Constructed in 2017, Friendly Hills Marketplace is fully leased to tenants including Orchard Supply Hardware, HomeGoods, ULTA Beauty and Sketchers.
ALBANY AND FOLSOM, CALIF. — ValueRock Realty Partners has purchased two retail properties in Albany and Folsom. The company acquired University Village at 1075-1095 Monroe St. in Albany for $19.2 million and Sprouts Farmers Market at 90 S.E. Bidwell St. in Folsom for $9.2 million. Twin Cities-based Oppidan sold the properties. University Village is occupied by Sprouts Farmers Market, Pet Food Express, Starbucks Coffee, Banfield Pet Hospital and The Habit Burger. Located in Folsom, the Sprouts Farmers Market was recently converted into a Sprouts from an Orchard Supply Hardware.
LAKE FOREST, CALIF. — Baker Ranch Investment LLC acquired Baker Ranch Center, a retail center located at 20491 Alton Parkway in Lake Forest, for $4.8 million. The 6,000-square-foot property is 100 percent triple-net leased to four tenants, including Tenko Sushi & Teriyaki, Ameci Pizza, Sage Nail Lounge and Sheesh Lebanese Kitchen. Patrick Toomey, Thomas Chichester, Joseph Chichester and Matt Brooks of Faris Lee represented the seller, Shea/Baker Ranch, while John Carpenter from The 949 Group represented the buyer in the deal.
CALABASAS, CALIF. — Marcus & Millichap has hired Scott Holmes as senior vice president and national director of its retail division. The industry veteran will be responsible for directing the firm’s retail business strategy nationwide. Most recently, Holmes served as senior vice president at Cole Real Estate Investments Inc., where he was responsible for leading the company’s shopping center acquisitions team, overseeing national investment activities and sourcing acquisitions nationally. Holmes has held leadership roles at AEW Capital Management LP and American Realty Advisors. Over the course of his career, he has closed more than $6 billion in commercial real estate transactions.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — CBRE has brokered the sale of Market at Parmer, a 122,349-square-foot shopping center located on Austin’s north side. San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B anchors the property, which was about 96 percent leased at the time of sale. Other tenants at Market at Parmer include Anytime Fitness, Pet Supplies Plus and Twin Liquors. Chris Cozby, Chris Gerard and Blaine Dozier of CBRE represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. Other terms of sale were not released.
GAINESVILLE, FLA. — Representatives of Celebration Pointe have inked a new lease with Nike Factory Store. Celebration Pointe Holdings LLC — a partnership between RaCo Real Estate LLC and Viking Cos. — is leading the 160-acre mixed-use development, located at I-75 and Archer Road in Gainesville. At full build-out, Celebration Pointe will span more than 1 million square feet and will include office and retail space, residential units and a mix of experiential and entertainment venues. Nike will join Bass Pro Shops, which opened in 2016, as an anchor tenant at the development. A 10-screen Regal RPX theater will open at Celebration Pointe this spring, and a 140-room Hotel Indigo will open in the summer.
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — A joint venture between Unison Realty Partners and Blue Vista Capital Management has purchased Hunt River Commons, a shopping center located in North Kingstown, for $15.8 million. Anchored by Stop & Shop and Marshalls, the 147,270-square-foot property was 84 percent leased at the time of acquisition. Additional tenants include Planet Fitness, GNC and Citizen’s Bank. The shopping center was constructed in 1989. The Wilder Cos. will serve as property manager and leasing agent for the center. This acquisition is the first joint venture between Unison Realty Partners and Blue Vista Capital Management. Nat Heald of JLL brokered the acquisition.
METUCHEN, N.J. — Regency Centers has purchased The District at Metuchen, a retail center located in Metuchen, for an undisclosed price. Whole Foods Market anchors the 66,000-square-foot shopping center. Additional tenants include Comida Fresca, European Wax, Title Boxing and Chipotle. The name of the seller was not released.