WAYNE, N.J. — Toys ‘R’ Us is planning to shutter up to 182 underperforming stores across the country as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan. The planned closings represent about 20 percent of the retailer’s U.S. store fleet, or a collective 6.9 million square feet. The Wayne-based toy chain, which filed for bankruptcy last September, has been fighting to stay relevant amid competition from the likes of Amazon, Walmart and Target. “Like other retailers, traditional toy retailers have been decimated by multiple forces,” says Peter Braus, managing principal in the New York City office of Lee & Associates. “First, Walmart and Target took away much of the market from specialty toy stores. As Amazon and online retailers began to take a larger and larger share of the market, this became too much for Toys ‘R’ Us and was the nail in the coffin.” Other retail experts agree that competition in the marketplace is coming from all directions. “Even Barnes & Noble has gotten into the game by adding a large assortment of toys to their sales floor,” says Monetha Cobb, managing director of Franklin Street’s Atlanta office. Online sales of toys have picked up in recent years, and are continuing to …
CHAMBLEE, GA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of Peachtree Station, a 106,372-square-foot retail center in Chamblee, a city 15 miles north of downtown Atlanta. The center is located at 5001 Peachtree Blvd. and features 1,000 feet of frontage along the thoroughfare. Fain Hicks of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller and developer, S.J. Collins Enterprises. Dallas-based Sarofim Realty Advisors acquired the center for approximately $68 million, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The property was delivered in 2017 and was fully preleased prior to completion. A 45,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market anchors the center. Additional tenants include Starbucks Coffee, Verizon Wireless, CRS Outdoor, Mattress Firm, The Cook’s Warehouse, Banfield Pet Hospital, Zoë’s Kitchen and Chipotle Mexican Grill.
MANASSAS, VA. — The JCR Cos. has acquired the Center at Innovation, a 101,990-square-foot shopping center in Manassas, a city in northern Virginia, for $31 million. The center is located on Nokesville Road, just west of the interchange with Prince William Parkway. HFF arranged the transaction on behalf of the seller, EDENS. Super Target shadow-anchors the center, which was more than 90 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including T.J. Maxx, PetSmart, Chick-fil-A, Tropical Smoothie Café, GameStop, Verizon Wireless and Red Robin. JCR plans to sell the three pad sites that are currently leased to Chick-fil-A, SunTrust Bank and Red Robin, and to fully lease the inline space. Constructed in 2008, Center at Innovation includes five buildings and 482 parking spaces. The property marks JCR’s second shopping center acquisition in Manassas.
MAUMEE, OHIO — Uber Capital Group LLC has arranged a $15 million loan for the $21 million acquisition of The Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee, located about 10 miles southwest of Toledo. A private commercial real estate group purchased the property from GGP Inc. Joel J. Gorjian of Uber sourced the loan with a regional bank based in Ohio. Built in 2007, The Shops at Fallen Timbers is a 1 million-square-foot shopping center located on a 110-acre site at 3100 Main St. Approximately 60 tenants occupy the center, including anchors J.C. Penney, Dillard’s, Barnes & Noble and Rave Cinemas.
EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Prestige Properties and Development has purchased a grocery-anchored retail center located at 50 Race Track Road in East Brunswick. A partnership between MCB Real Estate and Alex Brown Realty sold the property for $25.4 million. Aldi, Burlington, AutoZone and Jersey Fine Wines occupy the 117,000-square-foot retail center. The recently renovated center also includes a new building that is occupied by Starbucks, Supercuts and Five Guys. Jose Cruz, Kevin O’Hearn, Michael Oliver and Stephen Simonelli of HFF represented the seller in the deal.
NEW YORK CITY — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of a multi-tenanted commercial office and retail building located at 224 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. An undisclosed buyer acquired the property for $21 million. Originally built in the mid-19th century and significantly altered in 1980, the six-story building features 15,949 square feet of office and retail space. The building has floor plates that range from 2,600 square feet to 2,827 square feet and is currently leased to three office tenants and one retail tenant, 7-Eleven. John Ciraulo and Craig Waggner of Cushman & Wakefield represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
TAMPA, FLA. — The Shopping Center Group has arranged the $8.4 million sale of Shoppes of Amberly, an 88,000-square-foot shopping center in Tampa. Anthony Blanco and Lynn De Marco of The Shopping Center Group represented the seller, a special servicer, in the transaction that was finalized through the RealINSIGHT Marketplace auction platform. Shoppes of Amberly LLC acquired the center. At the time of sale, Shoppes of Amberly was 86 percent leased to tenants including Crunch Fitness and Peabody’s Billiards. In addition, the center is home to local restaurants and medical, health and beauty services.
NORFOLK, VA. — Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust Inc. (NASDAQ: WHLR) has acquired JANAF Shopping Yard, an 888,917-square-foot shopping center in Norfolk, for $85.7 million. Ann Arbor, Mich.-based McKinley sold the property, according to Inside Business. In addition to retail space, the center includes 37,234 square feet of office space in one building. As part of the transaction, Wheeler REIT assumed a $53.7 million loan with a fixed interest rate of 4.49 percent and a $5.2 million loan with a fixed interest rate of 4.95 percent. The loans mature in July 2023 and January 2026, respectively. In addition, the company utilized a $6.5 million loan with a fixed interest rate of 4.65 percent and one year of interest-only payments to purchase a separate parcel within the center. As of Sept. 30, 2017, JANAF Shopping Yard was 94 percent leased to tenants including BJ’s Wholesale Club and Fuel Center, T.J. Maxx, Petco, Wawa, Big Lots, Panera Bread, Northern Tool + Equipment, The U.S. Postal Service and SunTrust Bank. Originally constructed in 1959, JANAF has undergone several renovations, the latest in 2006.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. — Faris Lee Investments has arranged the $15 million sale of CVS Beach Garfield Center, a 31,140-square-foot retail property anchored by a freestanding CVS/Pharmacy in Huntington Beach. Shaun Riley of Faris Lee arranged the transaction on behalf of the buyer, 209 N. Brand Blvd. LP. Triwell Properties represented the seller, Sampont Properties LLC. In addition to CVS/Pharmacy, the center is home to tenants including Starbucks Coffee, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Verizon Wireless and Bank of America. The property was fully leased at the time of sale.
Marcus & Millichap Brokers $2.5M Sale of Texas Roadhouse Ground Lease in West Chester Township, Ohio
WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a Texas Roadhouse ground lease in West Chester Township, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. The 7,163-square-foot net leased property is located at 7309 Kingsgate Way and has a 15-year ground lease. Craig Fuller, Erin E. Patton and Scott Wiles of Marcus & Millichap marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a local private developer. An out-of-state buyer completing a 1031 exchange was the purchaser.