FORT WORTH, TEXAS — San Antonio-based Headwall Investments has purchased River District Plaza, a retail strip center in Fort Worth. According to LoopNet Inc., the center was built in 2020 and totals 5,920 square feet. The property was fully leased at the time of sale to three tenants: Wingstop, No Place Like Home and Rustic on the River. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
DETROIT — Mid-America Real Estate Corp. has brokered the sale of The Ellington Retail, a 34,431-square-foot, grocery-anchored property in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood. The property sold to a private investor and included a leasehold interest in the adjacent parking structure. The center is fully leased to Whole Foods Market, Bank of America, Chase Bank, FedEx Office, Great Expressions Dental, Pure Barre and Qargo Coffee. Ben Wineman and Daniel Stern of Mid-America represented the seller and original master plan developer of the site, Detroit-based The Platform. Jon Kouza of AQRE Advisors represented the buyer.
CHICAGO — NewMark Merrill Cos. Inc. has unveiled plans for a $1.5 million renovation of Bricktown Square, a 292,309-square-foot shopping center in Chicago. Improvements will include combining two existing spaces into a single larger space for a new Skechers location; completing façade renovations and new paint to the buildings occupied by ATI, Harbor Freight and LA Fitness; adding new signage and wayfinding; and painting the entire property with a new color scheme. Two new tenants, Okini Buffet and Kinship Health, are slated to open later this year. Since acquiring the property in June 2021, NewMark Merrill has renewed four tenants and generated a 39 percent increase in customer foot traffic, according to Placer.ai. Bricktown Square is now 98 percent leased.
POTTSTOWN, PA. — An affiliate of Pennsylvania-based investment firm High Real Estate Group has purchased the 154,219-square-foot Suburbia Shopping Center in Pottstown, about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Built on 25.6 acres in 2003 and anchored by supermarket Giant Food, Suburbia Shopping Center was 85 percent leased at the time of sale. Other tenants include Dollar Tree, Starbucks, The UPS Store and Tower Health. Jim Galbally and Patrick Higgins of JLL represented the seller, Gambone Management Co., in the transaction.
BESSEMER, ALA. — First National Realty Partners (FNRP) has signed a lease with OneLife Fitness to bring Tannehill Promenade, a 347,151-square-foot shopping center located at 4889 Promenade Parkway in Bessemer, to 98 percent occupancy. OneLife Fitness will occupy the former 57,455-square-foot JC Penney space — which has been vacant at the shopping center since 2017. The regional fitness operator offers group fitness classes, personal training, spa-like recovery areas and upscale gym equipment. The new club is slated to open in December, marking the brand’s first location in the Birmingham market. Earlier this year, FNRP also signed a lease with Aqua Dermatology for over 2,300 square feet at Tannehill Promenade. Other tenants at the property include Publix, Target, Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx and Burlington.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Dick’s Sporting Goods will open an approximately 120,000-square-foot store under its “House of Sport” brand at Cherry Hill Mall in metro Philadelphia. The store will feature a climbing wall, multiple golf bays with TrackMan simulators, an outdoor track and field and a multi-sport cage that can be used for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer. The opening is slated for some time next year. PREIT owns Cherry Hill Mall.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. — Edens has added a new wave of retailers to join the roster at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, a 403,000-square-foot open-air retail center in Palm Beach Gardens. Recently opened concepts include Skin Laundry, MeTime Salon, TINA Stephens, ZOE Boutique and Vagabond Kids Apparel. Committed tenants that will open soon include Pura Vida Miami, Crew Factory, Sweathouz, Tweeds Custom Suits, Humanaut Health, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Muse Paint Bar and Laser Away. Existing tenants include Whole Foods Market, REI, CMX Cinemas, Life Time Fitness, The Cheesecake Factory, Sweetgreen and Yard House, among others. In addition to the new retail concepts, Edens has revitalized Downtown Palm Beach Gardens with facade work, new decorative elements, landscaping, signage and outdoor furniture at the development’s “Northern Strand” area near the REI and CMX Cinemas. Other improvements include installing five new interactive digital directories and adding a cut-through running east-west through the development.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. — CBRE has brokered the sale of Shops at High Street, a 58,434-square-foot retail village located at 1430 High St. in Williamsburg. The Khoshbin Co., a privately held real estate investment and management firm based in Costa Mesa, Calif., sold the center for an undisclosed price. CBRE’s National Retail Partners Mid-Atlantic team represented the seller in the transaction, while White House Realty Group represented the buyer, an undisclosed private investor. Shops at High Street was 98 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Movie Tavern, Five Guys, Subway, Orangetheory Fitness, The Learning Experience and 1-800 Flowers.
The future of retail is bright for those willing to innovate, says Kathleen Brill, executive vice president and director of leasing and strategic partnerships for East Peoria, Illinois-based Cullinan Properties. “It’s no longer about square footage — it’s about activation,” emphasizes Brill. “Mixed-use, walkability and experience will continue to shape leasing trends.” Grant Mechlin, executive director of retail and multifamily brokerage services for St. Louis-based Sansone Group, says the narrative of retail leasing has shifted from survival to strategy. “Retailers are being more selective about where and how they grow, but there is no slowdown in activity,” he says. “Physical stores remain critical to brand identity, customer acquisition and fulfillment. Looking ahead, we expect to see more hybrid uses, especially where retail blends with wellness, services and entertainment.” Today’s retailers are activating their storefronts and rightsizing their footprints at a time when the cost of construction is at a record high, and many national chains have announced store closures or bankruptcies. The supply pipeline, already extremely thin by historical standards, will be further constrained by rising construction costs, helping limit fluctuations in vacancy rates, states Cushman & Wakefield in its first-quarter retail report. The brokerage firm reports a national vacancy …
STATELINE, NEV. — Caesar’s Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR), a gaming and casino giant based in Reno, has begun the $160 million transformation of Harveys Lake Tahoe, a 1.6 million-square-foot hotel and casino located in Stateline. The redevelopment project will feature upgrades, accommodations, elevated dining and gaming options and a new contemporary design. Beginning July 1, the resort will operate as Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino. “This transformation honors the storied history of Harveys while introducing modern amenities and elevated experiences that will redefine luxury in Lake Tahoe,” says Karie Hall, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s and Caesar’s Republic Lake Tahoe. The 88,000-square-foot casino floor at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe will be reimagined with fresh carpeting, lighting, tables, chairs and digital displays, while also including new slot machines, a high limit room and a World Series of Poker room. The lobby will also be redesigned. The resort’s towers, Remus Tower and Romulus Tower (formerly Mountain Tower and Tahoe Tower), will also be improved. All rooms in the Remus Tower will be remodeled, while Romulus Tower will receive a refresh after previously being fully redesigned in 2020. Additionally, butler service for select suites will be available for both hotels. …