SHELTON, CONN. — Los Angeles-based GreenLake Asset Management has provided $34.4 million in financing for Fountain Square, a shopping center that is under development in Shelton, located in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. The undisclosed sponsor will use the proceeds to refinance the property’s existing debt, including more than 60 liens from vendors, as well as to buy out the existing ownership and resume construction. Tenants that have already committed to Fountain Square include Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread and Taco Bell.
One word comes to mind when you pair Los Angeles and real estate: expensive. But creating a premier space can attract top-notch tenants, which then brings in the nearby clientele that can afford to live, work and play in, well, LA. Of course, tourists are enthusiastic spenders as well. Price tags and calories don’t count when you’re on vacation, after all. Way Out West Malibu-based developer, manager and sponsor Christina knows all about what it takes to cultivate a dynamic retail offering in Los Angeles. In uber-developed areas like this, it typically takes a tired or underachieving retail space in a prime location that can be made into something grand. “Christina operates with a laser focus on investing only in the ultra-prime submarkets of Los Angeles: Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Century City, Malibu, Santa Monica, Westwood, West Hollywood and Venice/Silicon Beach,” says Lawrence “Larry” Taylor, founder and CEO of Christina. “Redevelopment opportunities in these submarkets, which have limited inventory of pedestrian-oriented retail streets, are rarely available.” Given their scarce availability, the 46-year-old firm’s strategy has been to establish and maintain relationships with property owners in these markets. “Then, when disposition opportunities present themselves due to life changes, estate planning or similar reasons, …
ATLANTA — 200 Peachtree Group , an Atlanta-based owner and operator of food-and-beverage/entertainment brands, is underway on the development of two restaurants located at 200 Peachtree St. in downtown Atlanta. SKOL Brewing Co., a craft brewery, will comprise 5,000 square feet and is expected to open later this year. Food, beverage and entertainment hall Valhalla Social is scheduled to open in spring or summer 2024 and will total 15,000 square feet, with seating for roughly 300 people. CNNA Architects is the architect for both projects, which hope to capitalize on major tourism events coming to downtown Atlanta, including the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MARIETTA, GA. — JLL Capital Markets has brokered the sale of Merchant’s Festival, a 53,559-square-foot retail center located at 1401 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta, roughly 20 miles northwest of Atlanta. Target shadow-anchors the center. Jim Hamilton, Brad Buchanan and Anton Serafini of JLL represented the seller, a real estate fund advised by Crow Holdings Capital. Last Mile Investments acquired the property for an undisclosed price. Tenants at Merchant’s Festival, which was 85 percent leased at the time of sale, include Which Wich, Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies, Verizon Wiresless, Orangetheory Fitness, Pearle Vision Express and Learning Express Gifts.
PEARL, MISS. — Marshalls will open a new, 21,160-square-foot store at Outlets of Mississippi, a an outlet mall located in Pearl, roughly five miles outside Jackson, Miss. Scheduled to open later this summer and marking the eighth location in the state, the store will be situated in a space formerly occupied by Saks OFF 5TH. Scott Ferguson of FFO Real Estate Advisors oversees leasing at the property, which is part of the 166-acre The Connection mixed-use development. Other tenants at Outlets of Mississippi, which totals 325,000 square feet, include Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Nike Factory, Cole Haan, Coach Outlet, Levi’s, Michael Kors, Gap Factory Store and Under Armour.
SALEM, OHIO — The Cooper Commercial Investment Group has arranged the $2 million sale of Salem Market Place in Salem, a city in Northeast Ohio. Tenants at the 16,252-square-foot property include Super Cuts, Sally Beauty Supply, GameStop, Little Caesar’s, Gadget Lab, Alternative Smokes, Hibachi Express and Drayer Physical Therapy. The center is 83 percent occupied. Dan Cooper and Bob Havasi of Cooper Group represented the seller, a West Coast-based investor. The sales price represented a cap rate of 7.73 percent and approximately 98 percent of the list price.
WALNUT, CALIF. — Progressive Real Estate Partners has arranged a 2,366-square-foot, 10-year lease for The Habit Burger Grill in Walnut, approximately 25 miles east of Los Angeles. Paul Su of Progressive represented the landlord in lease negotiations. The tenant plans to execute a significant renovation of the building, which is situated across from Mt. San Antonio College and features a drive-thru.
WHITE HOUSE, TENN. — The Sembler Co. has announced plans for White House Shops, a 75,000-square-foot retail center in White House, roughly 30 miles north of Nashville. Publix has signed a 48,387-square-foot lease to anchor the property, which will also feature 11,000 square feet of adjacent retail space and 9,000 square feet of shop space across two additional buildings. Completion of the project is scheduled for next summer. Sembler acquired the 20-acre site earlier this month from a private owner for an undisclosed price.
MARYLAND — Restaurant chain Slim Chickens has signed a deal with Phoenix Foods LLC to open eight new locations in the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford. Brad Hoag, franchisee and owner of Phoenix Foods, will operate the locations, which will join another 1,100 restaurants currently in development for the brand. Hoag, who is based in Baltimore, is a former developer and operator of 10 Qdoba Mexican Grill locations and currently operates 10 Burger King restaurants.
HOBOKEN, N.J. — Locally based development and investment firm Maridian Properties has completed the majority of the renovations at 95 River Street, a historic building in Hoboken that comprises 22,500 square feet of office and retail space. Upgrades to common areas and office suites are complete, though a full remodel of the lobby remains ongoing. Maridian also rebranded the property as Lions Gate in homage to a decorative frieze on the building’s façade. Maridian acquired the building, which was originally constructed in 1910 for Steneck Trust Co. and last renovated in 1983, last December.