WAKE FOREST AND CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Wegmans will open two new grocery stores in 2021 in Wake Forest and Chapel Hill. The New York-based grocer plans to add 500 full-time jobs and nearly 900 total jobs at the two stores. The store in Wake Forest will span 104,000 square feet and will house 200 full-time employees. The property, located at 11051 Ligon Mill Road, is expected to open in May. The asset in Chapel Hill is expected to open in late February and will house 300 full-time jobs. The store will span 99,000 square feet and is situated at 1810 Fordham Blvd. Also, in North Carolina, a Wegmans in Cary recently sold for $34.9 million.
MERRIONETTE PARK, ILL. — Newport Capital Partners has purchased Stonebrook Plaza in Merrionette Park, located about 17 miles southwest of Chicago. The purchase price was undisclosed. Stonebrook Plaza is a 95,825-square-foot shopping center anchored by grocer Jewel-Osco. It is currently 96 percent leased. Other tenants include Blink Fitness and Pet Supplies Plus as well as eateries and personal care tenants. Jewel-Osco has operated at the property since 1985. Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers was the seller. Chicago-based Newport specializes in the acquisition and management of neighborhood shopping centers throughout major metro areas.
ATLANTA — The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) has reported that its third-quarter sales reached $33.5 billion, a 23.2 percent increase over third-quarter sales for 2019. Net earnings for the third quarter were $3.4 billion, or $3.18 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.8 billion, or $2.53 per diluted share, in the same fiscal period of 2019. The Atlanta-based retailer’s third quarter ended on Oct. 31. Chairman and CEO Craig Menear cited demand for home improvement projects in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic as a steady driver for increased sales. Menear says sales have reached $15 billion through the first nine months of the company’s fiscal year. As of the end of its third quarter, Home Depot operated 1,986 stores in the United States and territories. In addition to reporting third-quarter earnings, The Home Depot also announced it will invest $1 billion in permanent compensation for hourly associates. Throughout the pandemic, the company has taken actions to support its employees, including temporary weekly bonuses and offering extended paid time off. The Home Depot’s stock price closed Monday at $279.96 per share, up from $238.85 a year ago.
BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has reported that its third-quarter e-commerce sales grew 79 percent from the same period a year ago. Comparable sales, defined as those from stores that operated during the entire 12-month fiscal year, went up 6.4 percent. The Bentonville-based retailer’s revenue during its fiscal third quarter reached $134.7 billion, a 5.2 percent increase over the same time period a year ago. Walmart’s third quarter ended on Oct. 31. The company’s stock price closed Monday at $152.69 per share, up from $120.25 per share one year ago.
COSTA MESA, CALIF. — Invesco Real Estate, along with Steelwave and 5_Ronin, has completed the base build for Phase I of The Press in Costa Mesa. The development team is transforming the former Los Angeles Times newsroom, printing press and distribution facility into a mixed-use creative work campus and social hall. Upon completion in fourth-quarter 2020, the project will offer 380,856 square feet of modern creative office space and 50,909 square feet of retail space. Situated on 24 acres at 1375 Sunflower Ave., the property features a 1.5-acre park and improved outdoor space, as well as accessibility to John Wayne Airport and the residential markets of Newport Beach and Irvine. Jay Nugent and George Thomson of Newmark are handling office leasing for the project. Retail Insite’s Chris Hodgman and The Lab’s Jason House are serving as leasing agents for the retail portion of the asset.
PORTLAND, ORE. — McBride Capital has secured $7.8 million in bridge debt for the refinancing of Kaya Camilla, a mixed-use property located in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood. The property features 36 residential units and 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The two-year loan refinanced the construction debt and provided additional loan proceeds for tenant improvements and leasing commissions. Danny Natsch of McBride Capital placed the loan on behalf of the undisclosed borrower with a national bridge lender.
BLOOMINGTON, CALIF. — Progressive Real Estate Partners has arranged the sale of a retail property located at 2128 S. Riverside Ave. in Bloomington. Shell Gas Station and Circle K Convenience Store occupy the property, which was built in 2001. A Corona-based private investor sold the property to a Riverside County-based private investor for $6.2 million. The acquisition included both the business and the real estate. The buyer operates multiple ARCO gas stations throughout California. The asset features a Shell Gas Station offering eight dispensers with 20 fueling positions and a 2,900-square-foot Circle K featuring a variety of groceries, including snacks, to-go fresh food and beverages. Victor Buendia of Progressive Real Estate Partners represented the seller, while Mahlon Tobias of Tobias Commercial represented the buyer in the deal.
HOUSTON — Francesca’s Holdings Corp. will close 140 stores throughout the country by Jan. 30, 2021, the Houston-based women’s apparel and accessories retailer announced on Monday. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 140 shuttered stores represent about 20 percent of the company’s total store count. Francesca’s also said that if the company is unable to raise sufficient capital to continue funding operations and paying obligations, it will likely seek to restructure its debt load by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Francesca’s stock price opened at $3.53 per share on Tuesday, Nov. 17, down from $15.91 per share a year ago.
MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. — Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS) has reported that comparable sales decreased 13.3 percent in its third quarter, which ended Oct. 31, compared with the same period a year ago. That said, third-quarter sales and earnings exceeded company expectations, according to a news release. Shoppers are spending less on apparel during the pandemic, but Kohl’s says that its digital sales growth remains strong. The Menomonee Falls-based retailer says it has entered the holiday season with more omnichannel conveniences in place for its customers. Kohl’s stock price closed at $26.18 per share on Monday, Nov. 16, down from $58.40 per share one year ago. The retailer operates roughly 1,150 stores nationwide.
AVON, IND. — Thompson Thrift Retail Group (TTRG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Thompson Thrift, has sold Rockville Pointe in Avon near Indianapolis for $3 million. The 10,500-square-foot retail center is fully leased to Tropical Smoothie Café, The Good Feet Store, Spectrum, Papa Murphy’s and Family Allergy & Asthma. TTRG has owned the property since completing construction in 2009. Dylan Mallory of Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors represented TTRG in the sale. C.F. Rockville LLC, a private investor from Bloomington, purchased the asset.