MADERA, HANFORD AND FARMERSVILLE, CALIF. — Retail California, a division of Pearson Realty, has brokered three retail leases totaling 12,400 square feet. In Madera, Total PCS Solutions Inc. leased 900 square feet of space at 422 S. Gateway from Mark Knox. Nick Frechou of Retail California arranged the deal. In Hanford, EECU signed a deal for 1,000 square feet of retail space at Fargo Crossing Shopping Center from Blackheart Capital LLC. John Lee and Mike Kennedy of Retail California represented the landlord, while Troy McKenney of Newmark Grubb Pearson Commercial represented the tenant in the transaction. In Farmersville, Rite Aid signed a deal for 10,500 square feet of space at the corner of Farmersville Boulevard and Walnut Avenue from Halferty Development Co. Lewis Smith and John Lee of Retail California brokered the transaction.
SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. — Cushman & Wakefield’s Mortgage Services has closed a $46 million refinancing for Montecito Plaza in San Rafael. Located at Third and Grand streets, the shopping center is occupied by Trader Joe’s, Petco, Pier 1 Imports and Rite Aid, among others. Kurt Scheidt and Terry Daly of Cushman & Wakefield arranged the 10-year loan for the borrower, longtime owner/developer Seagate Properties.
LOS ANGELES — 365 by Whole Foods Market is opening its first location on May 25 in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. The location will feature selections from Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value brand, as well as local and branded products. Additionally, the new store will host several “Friends of 365” offerings through partnerships with by CHLOE., Allegro Coffee Co. and teaBOT, a retail platform that provides custom grab-and-go tea in under 30 seconds. 365 by Whole Foods has also partnered with Loomstate to custom design employee apparel for the stores. Two additional 365 by Whole Foods Market locations will open in 2016 — in Bellevue, Wash., and Portland, Ore. — and up to 10 stores are expected to open in 2017.
LOS ANGELES — California Realty Group has arranged the lease of 6,756 square feet of retail space at 5100 Wilshire Blvd. in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Automobile Club of Southern California signed a 10-year deal for the space, which is situated within the Mansfield mixed-use project. The new location is slated to open in the third quarter of 2017. Keith Kleinman and Mark Esses of California Realty Group represented the tenant, while CBRE’s Tim Bower and Gabrielle Lardiere represented the undisclosed landlord in this transaction.
BELLFLOWER AND GARDENA, CALIF. — SBH Real Estate Group Inc. has acquired a freestanding retail building located in Bellflower and a retail center located in Gardena for an aggregate price of $6.2 million. The 11,556-square-foot freestanding retail building in Bellflower was acquired for $2.4 million in an off-market transaction. Prior to closing, SBH signed a ten-year lease with Save A Lot for the property. Renovations are underway at the site, including a new roof, new HVAC system and upgrades to both the electrical system and parking lot. The 24,500-square-foot shopping center, located at 15015 Crenshaw Blvd. in Gardena, was acquired for $3.8 million in an all-cash transaction. Elizabeth Clark and Chris Chasin of BRC Advisors represented the sellers, Kenny and Susie Lee, and SBH in the transaction.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF. — Ware Malcomb has completed the construction of two auto dealerships – Allen Hyundai and Allen Cadillac GMC – in Laguna Niguel. Located at 28332 and 28432 Camino Capistrano, the combined projects for Allen Family Automotive Group total 36,839 square feet. The two-story Allen Cadillac GMC dealership offers 20,410 square feet of showroom and office space. The Hyundai dealership project included a 16,429-square-foot service facility and parts storage building, which was integrated into the existing building that was expanded from 2,271 square feet to 4,041 square feet. Ware Malcomb provided architectural, interior design and branding services for the project.
VALENCIA, CALIF. — The Automobile Club of Southern California is relocating its insurance claims operation to a Class A office building in the Summit At Valencia on Turnberry Lane. Mark Esses, a broker with California Realty Group who represented the Auto Club, said the company was looking for a new home for six to nine months. Esses represented the Auto Club along with Keith Kleinman. The company’s current operations are situated on Tourney Road. Kevin Fenenbock and John Erickson of Colliers International represented the landlord, Great Point Investors, in this transaction. The Auto Club absorbed the building’s entire ground floor, which equated to 29,000 square feet. The lease represents roughly half of the entire building. AAA is expected to move its regional insurance claims unit and other related groups to the new office by the third quarter of this year, said a spokesperson for the insurance group. The AAA member’s branch will continue to operate on Valencia Boulevard. There is no change for Auto Club members.
SAN FRANCISCO — Berkadia has arranged a $70 million refinancing for The Mills Building, a 440,000-square-foot, historic building in downtown San Francisco. The landmark structure is located at 220 Montgomery St. The building is 95 percent leased to tenants like the New York Stock Exchange, Pocket Gems, Mazzetti, Seiler LLP, Haworth and the University of California, San Francisco. The 10-year, full-term, fixed-rate loan features interest-only payments. It was used to refinance existing debt on the property. Mitch Thurston and Andy Ahlers of Berkadia secured the financing through Voya Investment Management on behalf of the Swig Co.
MONTEBELLO, CALIF. — Combined Properties has planned a $5.5 million renovation for Mart Montebello, a retail center at the intersection of Montebello and Beverly boulevards in Montebello. Originally built in 1957 and last renovated in 1991, the new project will remodel and modernize the facades and pad buildings with new parapets, features, fascia materials and repainted color schemes. Additionally, the renovation includes a new pad building, currently under construction, that is leased to Chipotle and The Habit Burger. The renovation is expected to begin during this quarter with completion by the end of the year. Upon completion, the center will be renamed Montebello Mix.
DAVIS, CALIF. — Browman Development has acquired a five-building retail portfolio across four blocks in downtown Davis. Brinley Downtown Properties sold the fully-leased portfolio for an undisclosed price. Located at 513, 603 and 718 Second St., 209 F St. and 207 E St., the 71,437-square-foot portfolio is occupied by a variety of retailers, including Armadillo Music, Fleet Feet Sports, The Army Corps of Engineers, The Avid Reader, Spa Central, E Street Salon, Balance Point Pilates Studio, The Wardrobe, The Root of Happiness Kava Bar, and Sweet and Shavery. Erik Neese, Ken Reiff and Shaun Morrow of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction.