ORLANDO, FLA. — Red Lobster has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. The Orlando-based seafood restaurant chain plans to sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing lenders. Red Lobster, which was founded in 1968 and operates some 600 restaurants across North America, has received a $100 million debtor-in-possession financing commitment from its existing lenders to facilitate this plan. The company stated that it would use the financing and bankruptcy proceedings to drive operational improvements, simplify the business through a reduction in locations and pursue a sale of substantially all its assets. Earlier this month, Red Lobster announced that it would be closing between 50 and 100 restaurants nationwide, a statement that fueled speculation on an imminent bankruptcy filing. Restaurants that were not included in this announcement from earlier in May will remain open throughout the bankruptcy proceedings, and the company says that it is continuing to work with its existing vendors to minimize operational disruption. CNN reports that, at the time of the bankruptcy filing, Red Lobster listed more than $1 billion in debt and less than $30 million in cash on hand. …
Southeast
The retail sector in South Florida is undergoing adjustments that reflect the region’s dynamic economic landscape and evolving consumer preferences. One notable trend is evident in the restaurant sector, where owners increasingly aim to expand by opening new locations and entering lucrative markets. This trend is primarily driven by consumer spending, particularly the continual growth of Miami’s tourism industry. Visitors directly inject capital into the local economy, leading to increased disposable income that often circulates back through experiential commerce such as restaurant sales. A clear indicator of the local market’s strength is the ongoing rise in rental asking rates, significantly surpassing national averages. A robust 4.6 percent upturn in asking rent this year, as reported by CoStar Group, demonstrates retailers’ ability not just to survive but to thrive in a market with elevated asking prices compared to the rest of the state. This upward trend in rent is accompanied by a low 2.8 percent vacancy rate, according to CoStar data, indicating a competitive landscape where profitable lease opportunities are increasingly scarce for tenants. The retail sector within the restaurant industry continues to thrive, showing significant activity and heightened interest. The influx of high-net-worth individuals and a post-pandemic resurgence in immigration …
Piedmont Office Realty Trust Signs Travel + Leisure to Corporate Headquarters Lease in Downtown Orlando
by John Nelson
ORLANDO, FLA. — Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc. has signed Travel + Leisure Co., a timeshare hospitality giant, to a lease at 501 W. Church in downtown Orlando. The publicly traded tenant will occupy the entirety of the five-story, 182,000-square-foot building and utilize the space for its new corporate headquarters through at least 2040. Alex Valente and Ben Mullenix represented Piedmont Office internally in the lease transaction along with Michael Phipps and Colin Morrison of CBRE. Greg Katz and Jason Warren of Stream Realty Partners, along with Mike Hopper of Newmark, represented the tenant. According to Valente, the Travel + Leisure lease represents the largest lease in downtown Orlando since 2019. Piedmont Office plans to renovate and rebrand the building ahead of the tenant’s occupancy in 2025. Preparations will include adding signage and modern amenities — including a new fitness center, conference center and café — to create a experience tailored for Travel + Leisure’s 900 expected employees.
MCB, Generation Properties Break Ground on 110,000 SF Shopping Center in Prince Frederick, Maryland
by John Nelson
PRINCE FREDERICK, MD. — MCB Real Estate and Generation Properties have broken ground on Armory Square, a 110,000-square-foot shopping center located at 429 Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick, about 44 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. The retail center is situated on a 12.5-acre site in Calvert County that once housed Calvert Middle School. Armory Square’s tenant roster will include Aldi, Michaels, Sneade’s Ace Home Center, Dash-In, First Watch, Jersey Mike’s, Hangry Joe’s, Always Ice Cream, Foster’s Grille and Quickway Hibachi. The target completion date was not disclosed. In addition to Armory Square, MCB and Generation Properties broke ground earlier this month on The Shops at Fairway Village, a $115 million mixed-use development in Waldorf, Md.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The CIM Group has sold The Argonne, a 276-unit apartment community located at 1629 Columbia Road NW in Washington, D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. The buyer and sales price were not disclosed. The eight-story brick property was originally built in 1923. Under CIM Group’s management, The Argonne has undergone upgrades to the building’s lobby, common areas, corridors and façade. Today, the property features floor plans ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, as well as a swimming pool, fitness center, conference center, yoga room and a dog park.
ANTIOCH, TENN. — NAI Nashville Stanton Group has brokered the $7 million sale of a 44,150-square-foot office building located at 5255 Hickory Hollow Parkway in Antioch, about 13 miles southeast of Nashville. An entity doing business as NCT LLC purchased the property from Rocketown of Middle Tennessee, a faith-based organization that operated the building as a live concert venue and skate park, according to the seller’s website. Ben Claybaker and Brandon Hoop of NAI Nashville Stanton Group represented the seller in the transaction. Sheri Ma of MM Realty and Management represented the buyer.
MIAMI — CP Group and DRA Advisors have executed nearly 40,000 square feet of office lease transactions at Miami Tower, a 47-story, Class A office tower located at 100 S.E. 2nd St. in downtown Miami. The executed deals include two lease renewals (H&R Block and Transwestern), one expansion (law firm Assouline & Berlowe) and seven new leases, all of which were for Miami Tower’s newly completed spec suites. The seven new tenants include Two Chairs, a behavioral healthcare company; GTS Group, a financial services company with locations in New York and Chicago; Shubin Law Group, a law firm specializing in land use and zoning entitlement litigation; Weisberg Kainen Mark PL, a tax law and criminal defense law firm; Latin Securities, an investment advisory firm; NormanMax Insurance Group, a reinsurance group; and Mamone & Villalon, a litigation and business law firm.
FRANKLIN, TENN. — McShane Construction Co. will build Ellison Cool Springs, a 34-acre mixed-use project in Franklin, approximately 20 miles south of Nashville. Upon completion, the property will comprise 332 apartments and 15 commercial units across three four-story buildings. McShane will construct the project on behalf of the developer, Fluornoy Development Group. Designed by Dynamik Design, amenities at the development will include an outdoor pool, clubroom, fitness center, recording studio, hospitality bar, focus room, pet spa and a car wash. Additionally, the property will feature two two-story parking garages and five standalone six-bay garages. Residences will include apartments in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts, with select two-story, live-work units. The project team expects to deliver Ellison Cool Springs in August 2026.
BLOOMINGDALE, GA. — A partnership between Crestlight Capital and GEM Realty Capital has acquired Savannah Portside II, a newly constructed, 1.2 million-square-foot industrial distribution warehouse located in Bloomingdale, roughly 14 miles northeast of Savannah. In September 2023, the partnership purchased the adjacent Savannah Portside I building. Together, the properties, which are located at 201 and 301 Savannah Portside International Parkway, total 2.3 million square feet. Two undisclosed tenants fully occupy the buildings. CBRE will manage and lease both properties on behalf of Crestlight and GEM.
ATLANTA — Walmart will open a 75,000-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market store at 835 MLK Jr. Drive in the Vine City neighborhood of Atlanta. Previously, the brand operated a Supercenter store at the property, which closed in December 2022 due to fire damage. The new store will feature a full-service deli, money center, expanded bakery, online pickup and delivery service and a health service room. Scheduled to open on Wednesday, May 22, this marks Walmart’s first conversion of a Supercenter store into a Neighborhood Market store.