GARLAND, TEXAS — Steakhouse concept Vila Brazil will open a 7,332-square-foot restaurant in the northeastern Dallas suburb of Garland. The site is a freestanding building within the Harbor Point retail center, which is shadow-anchored by Bass Pro Shops, on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard. Greg Blandford and Jack Thomas of Weitzman represented Vila Brazil in the lease negotiations. David Zoller, also with Weitzman, represented the undisclosed landlord. The opening is slated for late summer.
MIAMI — Burger King plans to invest $300 million to modernize 1,100 U.S. restaurants by 2028, according to parent company Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE: QSR). Each restaurant will be renovated in a new layout, called Sizzle, that emphasizes flexibility as well as the digital, pick-up and drive-thru experiences. In addition to the planned renovations, the investment will also cover cash incentives for top-performing operators. “We are committed to giving our guests the very best experience in all our restaurants and that includes a modern, exciting restaurant image and digital experience that exceeds their expectations,” says Tom Curtis, president of Burger King North America. “We are working in close partnership with our franchisees to transform our restaurant footprint across the country and reclaim our flame as a leader in the QSR [quick-service restaurant] industry.” The newly announced initiative, dubbed Royal Reset 2.0, is a continuation of its existing Royal Reset program announced in 2022 that included a $250 million investment in overhauling the physical real estate, tech and kitchen equipment at thousands of Burger King locations. The first Royal Reset plan was part of a $400 million campaign, called Fuel the Flame, that also included $150 million in digital and …
PETERSBURG, VA. — The City of Petersburg has selected Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Cos. to co-develop a $1.4 billion gaming and entertainment district at the intersection of Wagner Road and I-95 in Petersburg, roughly 24 miles south of Richmond. The Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the joint venture partnership, which responded to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the city as the preferred development partner on the mixed-use project. Upon completion, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will comprise more than 400,000 square feet of gaming, hotel and dining space, as well as 35,000 square feet of meeting and convention space; a 200-room hotel; 1,600 slot machines; 46 table games; a sportsbook; 3,000-seat entertainment venue; and eight food-and-beverage options. The property will be developed, owned and managed by an entity doing business as Petersburg Community Development Investors LLC. According to the developers, the project will create an expected 7,500 new jobs and generate $2.8 billion in economic stimulus within the first 10 years. Projections also include $504 million in tax revenues, including $240 million to the City of Petersburg; $802 million in economic benefits during construction; and $201 million in annual economic benefits each year after opening.
ATLANTA AND NEW YORK CITY — Private equity giant Blackstone has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a franchiser of fast-casual restaurants, from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. The deal values the Atlanta-based smoothie chain at around $2 billion, including debt, according to The Wall Street Journal. Tropical Smoothie Cafe began as a single location in Destin, Fla., in 1997. The chain has grown to more than 1,400 locations in 44 states today. The company opened more than 175 locations in 2023, 70 percent of which were opened by existing franchisees. In addition to smoothies, the company sells menu items like sandwiches, salads and bowls. In the first quarter of this year, Tropical Smoothie Cafe completed 64 franchise agreements and opened 39 new stores. Its newest airport location opened at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The launch of new menu items such as Tropic Bowls helped drive overall sales, which were above the industry average in the first quarter, according to the company. “Tropical Smoothie Cafe has had an impressive growth trajectory, consistently building on its loyal customer base as it has scaled nationwide,” says Peter Wallace, a senior managing director in Blackstone’s private equity business. “Blackstone …
SAN ANTONIO — Texas-based restaurant operator Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has debuted Pullman Market, a 40,000-square-foot food hall within San Antonio’s Pearl District. The culinary destination features four full-service restaurants, fast-casual concepts, an artisan butcher and fishmonger program, various wine and beer selections, Texas-based produce and specialty foods, a seasonal bakery and a fresh pasta program. The four restaurants include Italian concept Fife & Farro, Mexican eatery Mezquite, fine-dining establishment Isidore and dessert bar Nicosi.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Current, a professional women’s soccer team, has unveiled plans for an $800 million mixed-use project on the Missouri riverfront in downtown Kansas City. The development follows completion of CPKC Stadium, a women’s soccer stadium that seats 11,500 people, in March. According to the project team, the $120 million venue is the first soccer stadium to be designed and built exclusively for women. Partners for the mixed-use project include Palmer Square Capital Management, Marquee Development and the Port Authority of Kansas City. The stadium will anchor the mixed-use district, along with Berkley Riverfront Park and the Missouri riverfront. The development will feature hundreds of multifamily units, food and beverage offerings, and new public recreational spaces such as a new town square and a riverfront promenade. The public areas will be programmed with family-friendly events like movie nights, food festivals, fitness classes and live music. Additionally, 10 percent of all residential units across all phases of the project will be set aside for tenants earning up to 50 percent of the area median income. “Kansas City was founded at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers,” says Angie Long, co-founder and co-owner of the KC Current. “With the …
Four Food-and-Beverage Users, Two Retailers to Join Roster at Tuscan Village in Salem, New Hampshire
SALEM, N.H. — Four new food-and-beverage users and two retailers have joined the tenant roster at Tuscan Village, a mixed-use destination in Salem that is a redevelopment of the former Rockingham Park horseracing complex. Shake Shack, Tavern in the Square, Sweetgreen and The Capital Grille, as well as retailers Drybar and West Elm, have all chosen Tuscan Village for their first locations in New Hampshire. Tentative opening dates were not disclosed.
COLONIE, N.Y. — New York City-based Olshan Properties has welcomed three new tenants to Northway Mall, a 480,000-square-foot shopping and dining destination located just outside of Albany in Colonie. The new tenants are Mattress Firm (4,745 square feet), Mission BBQ (4,329 square feet) and Club Pilates (1,846 square feet). Each company’s space is located within a standalone building that previously housed a Petco and which Olshan repositioned to support multiple tenants.
MENTOR, OHIO — The Cooper Commercial Investment Group has arranged the $2 million sale of a single-tenant property occupied by Starbucks in Mentor, a northeast suburb of Cleveland. Constructed in 2022, the building features a drive-thru. Dan Cooper of Cooper Group represented the seller, a private investment group based in Ohio. The 1031 exchange buyer purchased the asset at a cap rate of 5.74 percent. There are approximately eight years remaining on the 10-year lease.
CENTER VALLEY, PA. — Five Guys Burgers & Fries will open a 2,407-square-foot restaurant at Promenade Saucon Valley in Center Valley, an unincorporated area located about 50 miles north of Philadelphia. The center was formerly known as The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. Scheduled to open this fall, the restaurant will be situated between the stores of European Wax Center and uBreakiFix. Five Guys’ portfolio currently includes more than 1,700 restaurants globally.