WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. — Just over three weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Guitar Center appears ready to already emerge from the process. In its original filings, the Westlake Village-based musical instrument and supplies retailer reported its business of instrument purchases, rentals, repairs and music lessons suffered amid the upheaval stemming from government-mandated shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a virtual hearing Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Huennekens, based in Richmond serving the Eastern District of Virginia, approved Guitar Center’s bankruptcy plan, according to Bloomberg. The retailer expects to emerge from the Chapter 11 process before the end of next week, reducing its debt load by around $800 million. The company worked out a restructuring support agreement that includes new financing from existing creditors, $165 million in new equity from owner Ares Management Corp., Carlyle Group and Brigade Capital Management, Bloomberg reports. Recently sold bonds will also help pay for the move. The judge noted that creditors will still be paid in full as a result of the new structure, and creditors unanimously supported the deal. No plans were released regarding Guitar Center’s 297 brick-and-mortar locations. When it originally filed for bankruptcy, the company also hired A&G …
The “New Mexico Retail Outlook — What Will New Mexico Retail Activity Look Like in 2021?” webinar, hosted by Shopping Center Business and Western Real Estate Business, covers the creative approaches taken retailers responding to COVID-19. Learn what retailers, restaurants and developers need to thrive and what our panelists anticipate for New Mexico retail in the near future. Development, trends, the shift to omnichannel business and much more make up this fascinating, one-hour panel. Topics discussed: How have New Mexico area retailers, restaurants and developers adapted to the COVID-19 environment? What do they need to succeed? What are the predictions for New Mexico retail occupancy rates in the coming year? How will retail rents and property values be impacted? What will be the impact on new development in the near term? What is the expectation for investment sales activity in 2021? How should retailers and retail property owners position themselves for recovery? What opportunities do New Mexico retail tenants, developers and investors see in a post-pandemic market? Panelists: Jeff Campbell, Carlsbad Department of Development (moderator) Bob Feinberg, Colliers International Tom Jones, Colliers International Anthony Johnson, Pegasus Group Ariana James West, Base 5 Retail Steve Maestas, Maestas Development Group Webinar sponsors: Carlsbad Department of Development: The …
INDIANAPOLIS AND MAPLE GROVE, MINN. — SRS Real Estate Partners has negotiated the sale-leaseback of a two-property retail portfolio in the Midwest for $7.2 million. Christian Brothers Automotive sold both buildings and then signed 15-year leases. The first property is located at 3985 W. Smith Valley Road in Indianapolis. The 5,264-square-foot building sits on nearly two acres. The second asset is located at 9565 Zachary Lane in Maple Grove, a suburb of Minneapolis. The building spans 5,561 square feet on 1.4 acres. Frank Rogers and Michael Carter of SRS represented the all-cash buyer, a Midwest-based private investor that completed a 1031 tax-deferred exchange.
STANFIELD, ARIZ. — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of a retail property located at 60 Albany Way in Stanfield. A limited liability company sold the asset to a Wisconsin-based investor for $1.3 million. Family Dollar occupies the 8,320-square-foot property on a net-lease basis. The tenant has eight years remaining on a corporate-guaranteed lease. Zack House, Mark Ruble, Chris Land and Jamie Medress of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller in the deal.
Retail Sales in November Show Negative Growth for First Time Since May, Remain Higher than Last Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Retail sales in November declined 1.1 percent compared to October of this year, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Wednesday. The monthly decline is the first dip since April, when sales plummeted 14.7 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. November sales totaled $546.5 billion, which was an increase of 4.1 percent from November 2019. Additionally, the three-month period from September 2020 to November was 5.2 percent higher than the same time period a year ago. Month-over-month, motor vehicle and parts dealers, home furniture stores, electronics and appliances stores, clothing and accessories stores and sporting goods stores all reported decreased sales. The home improvement and food and beverage sectors grew 1.1 and 1.6 percent, respectively. Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF), says the monthly decline is due to consumers holding steady amid rising COVID-19 cases and congressional gridlock. “Consumers held back on spending in November as virus rates spiked, states imposed retail restrictions and congressional stimulus discussions were gridlocked,” says Shay. “While consumers have been bolstered by increases in disposable income and savings, it’s clear that additional fiscal stimulus from Congress is needed and we are hopeful it will be passed soon as we enter the final …
DULUTH, GA. — The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted to acquire 39 acres at Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, including the portion of the mall that houses most of the mall’s inline tenants, food court and the shuttered Belk-Parisian store. The Urban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County (URA) will buy the land for $23 million from Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC, a Las Vegas-based investor that bought the mall in 2013 from Simon. Moonbeam Capital put the mall up for sale last fall. The sale does not include the locations of Macy’s, Mega Mart and Beauty Master, which are tenant-owned. Additionally, the former Sears building, which Northwood Ravin acquired in 2018, was not part of the sale. Gwinnett Place Mall was originally completed in 1984. The mall has been used in the film industry in recent years as the setting for movies and TV shows including “Stranger Things,” “Holidate,” “Ozark,” “I, Tonya” and “Greenleaf.” Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners chairwoman Charlotte Nash says the county has been attempting to acquire the land for several years and will redevelop the parcel that has “incredible opportunity.” Gwinnett County will engage the County Department of Planning and Development, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement …
WARNER ROBINS, GA. — Marcus & Millichap has negotiated the $3.7 million sale of a 13,076-square-foot retail strip center within Merganser Commons in Warner Robins. Zach Taylor of Marcus and Millichap’s Taylor McMinn Retail Group implemented a parcelization strategy to sell Merganser Commons for a total of $14.7 million on behalf of the seller, EA Columbia Properties. A 45,600-square-foot Publix anchors Merganser Commons. The strip center was the last piece of Merganser Commons to be sold. “By taking a parcelization approach we were able to maximize the seller proceeds,” says Taylor. Tomahawk Properties LLC acquired the asset.
RIVERTON, UTAH — Developer CenterCal Properties has selected Okland Construction to build the second phase of Mountain View Village Phase II, an 85-acre lifestyle development in Riverton. The second phase will include five pocket parks with unique amenities; show fountains; a covered market hall-style pavilion with a collection of eateries and common indoor and outdoor seating; a 14-screen Cinemark movie theater complex; and retail, restaurant and commercial spaces. The first phase includes a Harmons Grocery Store and Fuel Shop and more than 35 retailers, businesses and dining options. Okland Construction will begin work immediately on the second phase. Upon built-out, Mountain View Village will be a community gathering place, commercial hub and residential community.
LOS ANGELES — A private developer has completed the sale of California Marketplace, a shopping center located at 450 S. Western Ave. in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. A private investment company acquired the asset for $57.5 million. A Korean grocery store occupies the three-story retail property, which features an adjacent, four-level parking structure. At the time of sale, the property was 86 percent leased to 25 tenants, including Gaju Market, Pacific City Bank, Myungrang Hot Dog and BMB Medical. Michael Shustak, Derrick Moore, Chris Caras and Phillip Sample of CBRE’s downtown Los Angeles office represented the seller in the deal.
WALLA WALLA, WASH. — Newmark has arranged the sale of a single-tenant, net-leased retail building located at 450 N. Wilbur Ave. in Walla Walla. A Hawaii-based buyer acquired the asset from a publicly traded REIT for $16.2 million. A national grocer occupies the 60,026-square-foot building, which is situated within Eastgate Marketplace Shopping Center, under a long-term lease. Matt Berres, Samer Khalil, Billy Sleeth and Paul Sleeth of Newmark represented the seller in the deal.