PORTER, TEXAS — Baseball and softball training operator D-BAT will open a 15,000-square-foot facility at the Valley Ranch, Signorelli Co.’s master-planned development located northeast of Houston. The facility, which will be constructed on a 1.3-acre site that D-Bat purchased, will offer lessons, camps, workshops, event space, batting cage rentals, a fully stocked pro shop and monthly memberships. The facility will be D-Bat’s 10th in the Houston area and is scheduled to open this summer.
DALLAS AND HOUSTON — Blackstone Real Estate (NYSE: BX), the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, has agreed for its Core+ funds business affiliate to acquire a 95 percent stake in an industrial portfolio in Texas totaling 6 million square feet. The purchase price is $718 million. Crow Holdings, the Dallas-based real estate and development firm that developed the properties, is the seller and will retain a 5 percent ownership stake. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. The portfolio comprises 25 Class A buildings located predominantly in submarkets of Dallas and Houston. According to Blackstone, the metros are two of the top-performing logistics markets in the country. “We are thrilled to acquire this high-quality portfolio located in some of the best performing U.S. industrial markets,” says David Levine, co-head of Americas acquisitions for Blackstone. “With limited vacancy and new construction starts down over 80 percent from the 2022 peak, logistics remains a high conviction theme for us; we are proud owners of more than $90 billion of warehouses in North America and nearly $170 billion in total around the world.” Founded in 1991, Blackstone currently has $315 billion of investor capital under management …
By Casey Smallwood of SRS Real Estate Partners In today’s fiercely competitive quick-service restaurant (QSR) market, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping how brands operate, engage with customers and create value. An industry once defined by speed and consistency is now being reshaped by data, automation and intelligent personalization. Across the country, QSRs are embracing cutting-edge technologies to improve operations, enhance the customer experience and maximize profitability. From mobile ordering apps to AI-powered drive-thru automation and predictive inventory management, these innovations are redefining the QSR business model. To stay competitive and relevant in today’s fast-changing market, franchise operators, developers and commercial real estate investors must understand and adapt to these technology-driven shifts. At the heart of this evolution is digital transformation — the integration of digital technology across all aspects of the business. In the QSR landscape, this includes everything from mobile ordering apps, digital menu boards to contactless payment systems, smart kitchen equipment and sophisticated customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Unlike full-service restaurants that emphasize ambiance and table service, QSRs succeed by offering speed, convenience and consistency. Digital transformation amplifies these core strengths, allowing operators to serve more customers faster and more accurately while also collecting and …
By Trina Sandschafer, AIA, Project Management Advisors Adaptation and reinvention are core parts of what makes American cities great, and Chicago is a prime example. Whether rebuilding, reimagining space for modern usage or creating new neighborhoods from formerly empty lots, the city has become known for its unique ability to bring new energy and life to formerly underutilized areas. Chicago knows how to reimagine the built environment and is leading the way with several transformative development strategies. Adaptive reuse: A well-tested Chicago tactic Chicago’s long history of adaptive reuse began with the pioneering residential loft developers. In the wake of nationwide manufacturing declines, these enterprising developers saw opportunity in the city’s largely vacant warehouses and manufacturing buildings. The success of these early loft conversions encouraged further reimagining of Chicago’s aging industrial and office stock into condominiums, apartments, offices, entertainment venues and hospitality spaces, which continue to this day. Now, adaptive reuse strategies are helping to increase the supply of housing and restore economic viability to communities dealing with the lingering impact of the pandemic on local businesses. Converting legacy structures to new and better uses is more environmentally sustainable and can be more cost-effective than demolishing older buildings and starting …
FISHERS, IND. — Thompson Thrift has sold Slate at Fishers District, a 242-unit luxury build-to-rent community in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers. Bonaventure Holding Co. purchased the property for an undisclosed price. George Tikijian, Hannah Ott, Ted Abramson, Cam Benz, Claire Hassfurther, Ryan Stockamp and Sean Pingel of CBRE brokered the sale. Slate at Fishers District features one-, two- and three-bedroom villas as well as three- and four-bedroom townhomes. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, bark park and dog spa. Construction wrapped in May 2024, and the property’s occupancy now exceeds 90 percent. Slate at Fishers District is one of five developments within the larger Fishers District. Once completed, the $750 million project will span 123 acres and include multifamily, hotel, office, dining, shopping and entertainment options.
GRANTS PASS, ORE. — A little over a month after unveiling its 1,000th retail location, drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) is expanding its operations with goals to reach 2,029 shops by 2029. Originating in 1992 as a pushcart by the railroad tracks in downtown Grants Pass, Dutch Bros opened its first franchise in 2000. Dutch Bros Coffee now has a significant presence in the Pacific Northwest and is expanding with more locations across the United States, moving eastward to Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia. Looking further out, Dutch Bros sees potential for 7,000-plus locations nationwide, up from its original estimate of 4,000 shops. In 2025 alone, the company expects to open “at least” 160 new stores. The company recently hired former YUM! Brands executive Brian Cahoe as chief development officer to oversee the expansion strategy. The Dutch Bros management team recently provided updates on the business and its long-term growth goals at its Investor Day meeting last week. “We are pleased to deliver quarter-to-date first-quarter same-shop sales above our expectations, supported by positive traffic and strong business momentum,” says Christine Barone, CEO and president of Dutch Bros. Through March 24, same-store sales increased 4.6 percent in the …
The Birmingham industrial market is poised for an increase in absorption as the apex of higher interest rates seem to be settling down, not to mention the post-election certainty that now favors business expansion. Corporate America is waking up and the clouds are clearing. For the past 24 months, the competitive set of investor-controlled warehouse space has been sitting on about 2 million square feet of inventory. About 550,000 square feet of that is still unleased speculative space in three different projects delivered at the back-end of the post-COVID development wave that did see about 700,000 square feet of absorption of new spec space before the music metaphorically stopped. Then came the 2023/2024 wave of the “new spec space,” a byproduct of the mentioned interest rates and COVID over-correction. Several second-generation spaces are now being marketed as companies vacated or downsized for various reasons. For example, discount retailer Dollar General is vacating an entire 307,000-square-foot warehouse. Broader, there have been two major announcements in Central Alabama for the closure of distribution centers, both as a result of retailers’ bankruptcies. JoAnn Fabric’s 700,000-square-foot distribution facility in Opelika at I-85 is now on the market as is the 1.2 million-square-foot former …
NEW YORK CITY — Novartis has renewed and extended its 15,865-square-foot office lease at 10 Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan. The deal keeps the Swiss pharmaceutical giant on the entire 12th floor of the building, which was originally constructed in 1902, via a five-year extension. David Stockel of CBRE represented Novartis in the lease negotiations. JLL represented the landlord, Property & Building Corp.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Locally based developer ONM Living has sold Cottages at Summer Creek, a 196-unit build-to-rent residential property in South Fort Worth. Built on 18 acres in 2023, Cottages at Summer Creek offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that range in size from 344 to more than 1,200 square feet. Homes offer private fenced yards, covered front porches, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, walk-in showers, washers and dryers and smart technology features. Amenities include a pool, two pet parks, pickleball courts, walking trails and a conference room. ONM Living sold the property in partnership with All Pro Capital. Berkadia brokered the deal. The buyer was Stockbridge Capital Group.
CHESAPEAKE, VA. AND NEW YORK CITY — Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) has agreed to sell the Family Dollar business segment to Brigade Capital Management LP and Macellum Capital Management LLC for $1 billion. The sales price represents a fraction of the $8.5 billion that Dollar Tree paid for the discount brand in 2015. Family Dollar will remain headquartered in Chesapeake. Family Dollar, which caters to low-income customers with its roughly 8,000 U.S. stores, has struggled in recent years. In March 2024, Dollar Tree unveiled plans to close approximately 970 underperforming Family Dollar stores. After a review of potential alternatives for the Family Dollar business segment, the Dollar Tree leadership team and board of directors determined that a sale of Family Dollar to Brigade and Macellum best unlocks value for Dollar Tree shareholders and positions Family Dollar for future success. “This is a major milestone in our multi-year transformation journey to help us fully achieve our potential,” says Mike Creedon, CEO of Dollar Tree. “We will continue to grow and optimize our Dollar Tree business to maximize value for Dollar Tree associates, customers and shareholders with an enhanced focus on compelling initiatives, including our expanded assortment, significant planned new store …