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The
Dealmakers Issue Number 5 for the week of February 16, 1996. My Way
by Ted Kraus Well
the ICSC threw a great party (they called it the Northeastern States Dealmaking show) and
2100 to 2300 of my closest friends showed up. The
exhibit area was totally sold out with a long waiting list hoping some of the confirmed
exhibitors didn't show, and even the threat of a mini blizzard didn't stop the crowds from
coming. Part of the reason for high
attendance is because these "DealMaking/Networking" events are playing an ever
increasing role in retail real estate prospecting. Attendance
at almost all of the events is "up" and the importance/productivity of these
shows alone more than justify the ICSC's membership costs.
The company/person that waits for the phone to ring in today's
"environment" is the company waiting to go out of business. Almost everyone at the show I spoke to was both
upbeat and extremely aggressive in seeking
new business (survival does wonderful things to all of us).
People who in the past tended to be (depending on your viewpoint) either
standoffish or snobbish all of a sudden became everyone's best friend (they're having a
hard time paying bills, so they decided they have to become salesmen and work again). Sidebar...
On the subject of salesmen (or women), I think that's one of the problems in our industry
today. Too many of us have gotten too fat or lazy and began to think we're not salespeople,
we're "professionals," whatever that means, and we're above that...bull. We sell/lease shopping centers, that's how we eat. Part of being a good and successful salesperson
is knowing your product and satisfying your customer.
Not very many people seem to work that way anymore.
I speak to too many agents/brokers who can tell me little about their center except
for the GLA, parking, anchor tenants and demographics for a five mile radius. After that it's "I'll get back to you,"
which most don't. Follow up in our industry
usually stinks. On the
topic of my favorite subject, "being on-line," there were numerous companies at
the show exhibiting various Internet services (Interneting is in). In addition, many companies are starting to add
their e-mail & Home Page addresses to their business cards (oh, if you want a list of
500 real estate Home Pages, send a request to: ted.kraus@dealmakers.net and I'll e-mail it
back to you). Some
companies, such as Norm Kranzdorf's Kranzco Realty Trust not only have a Home Page, but
require (when they can get away with it) all their tenants to "advertise" on the
page, even if it's only to place their name, address and phone number. Several
of our advertisers are now not only placing ads (thank you) but are having us
"develop" a Home Page for 'em so they can then place their ad along with their
Home Page address, thereby allowing extensive information to be viewed and downloaded by
those real estate professionals with on-line access.
I'm willing to bet that becomes the norm in the near future. That's
the good news, and in most respects everyone attending worked hard at either trying to
network, make a deal or find a job. (I'd
guess that up to 20% of those attending are job hunting.)
But everyone (or, I should say, most) showed a great deal of frustration and
uneasiness with the economy and nervousness over their job and future. Rumors
ran rampant both Thursday evening at the cocktail reception and all day Friday at the show
over which retailers had declared bankruptcy that day or were going to go "11"
within a few days (January through March are big bankruptcy months). Today's Man (which was true), Merry-Go-Round
(ditto), Discovery Zone, Fashion Bug and Herman's were the most popular names mentioned. I spoke to one retailer who's name had come up as
one of the "chosen" and asked if it was true.
She was, too say the least, upset that her company and the word bankruptcy had been
used in the same sentence. "We have no
debt, how could we be in trouble?" was the response I received. I explained that even with a great financial
statement, rumors on every retailer except for Wal*Mart, Home Depot, May Company and
Target, are running rampant. That didn't make
her feel better. Three
years ago, would any of us ever think there was a possibility of Kmart going
"11"? Rene
Daniels of the Daniels Group, an old, old friend (I knew him before his former mustache
started to turn grey) and I had dinner together Thursday night along with seven or eight
other dealmakers. Rene kind of summed it all
up when during one heated discussion on the industry's future said, "We're (referring
to him and me, the rest of the group was under 30) too old to be worried, we know better. We've been here before, like in '74 and '75 when
there were no tenants, no one to talk to and every center that opened was only 60% leased
(and don't forget the day of 17% interest rates) and no matter how bad it was, we
survived." (How true it is.) While I'm not optimistic on the economy's short
term future, I've been in this business 26 years (It seems like yesterday I was the new
kid on the block) and I've been through at least four recessions/depressions, and while
I've been scared, beaten and abused over the last two and a half decades of being in
retail real estate, I've survived 'em all, never missed a meal (but unfortunately I could
afford to miss a few) and Josh does not have any idea what
being deprived really means. So while
regrets I have a few, there are too few to mention. Yes
it's going to be tough out there for the next few years, but nobody promised us a rose
garden, so going on with my cliches, we just gotta pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off
and start all over again. Among
the "bad" signs for the future we're seeing is as part of our subscription
"feedback" program, every month we randomly call 10 to 25 subscribers who didn't
renew their subscriptions. Besides
occasionally convincing some to renew, it provides us with insight/feedback on why we
didn't fulfill this subscriber's needs. Anyway,
last month two venture capital companies and one stock analyst didn't renew. When called, all three informed us they switched
"interest" from, as was the case of the venture capitalist company, from
retailing to non-high tech manufacturing and distribution and the stock company has lost
interest in REITs (his opinion on 'em to say the least was not optimistic). This does not indicate long term growth for
retailing or REITs. Another problem is the
consolidation going on in retailing. For
example, rumors are that OfficeMax and Staples will merge and CompUSA is buying Computer
City. All this mean less tenants to make a
deal with. Apparel
Tenants Seeking Sites Spiegel,
Inc. trades as Eddie Bauer at 402 locations throughout North America. The men's and women's apparel stores occupy spaces
of 5,000 sq.ft. to 6,000 sq.ft. in downtown store fronts, outlet centers and regional
malls. Plans call for 60 openings in the
coming 18 months. Expansion will take place
throughout North America. For more information, contact Debbie Koopman,
Spiegel, Inc., 15010 NE 36th Street, Redmond, WA 98052; 708-769-2596, Fax 769-3111. Her
Place, Inc. trades as Her Place at five locations in TX.
The women's apparel and accessories stores occupy spaces of 1,200 sq.ft. in
downtown store fronts, regional malls and strip centers.
Plans call for as many as four openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion will take place in TX, NM, AZ, NE, IL,
MI or KS. The company is franchising. For more information, contact Joe Field, Her
Place, Inc., c/o Franchise Consortium, 245 South 84th Street, Suite 210, Lincoln, NE
68510; 800-301-9504. Land's
End, Inc. trades as Land's End at 19 locations in IA, IL and WI. The family apparel stores, which also sell
handbags, luggage, shoes and domestic items, occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. to 10,000
sq.ft. in outlet centers. Plans call for as
many as three openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place in MN. For more information, contact Lois Hugill, Land's
End, Inc., 5 Lands End Lane, Dodgeville, WI 53595; 800-332-0117, Fax 608-935-4291. Loveable
Co. does business as Loveable at two locations in GA.
The intimate apparel stores occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. in outlet centers. Plans call for 10 openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place AL, FL, GA,
NC, SC and TN. For more information, contact Tom Abbott, Loveable
Co., 2121 Peachtree Industrial, Buford, GA 30518; 770-945-2171, Fax 932-0351. Revelation,
Inc. operates 11 locations in CA. The stores,
selling moderately-priced, career oriented apparel as well as sportswear and related
accessories, occupy spaces of 900 sq.ft. to 1,200 sq.ft. in strip centers. Preferred anchors include supermarkets. Growth opportunities are sought in the existing
market. For more information, contact John Boone,
Revelation, Inc., 3113 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007; 213-747-6351. Men's
Wearhouse, Inc. trades as Men's Wearhouse at 279 locations nationwide. The stores, selling men's apparel at off price
points, occupy spaces of 5,000 sq.ft. to 6,000 sq.ft. in power and strip centers. Plans call for 45 openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place nationwide,
excluding the upper East Coast area. For more information, contact Bill Erickson, Men's
Wearhouse, Inc., 40650 Cyclopedia Circle, Freemont, CA 94538; 510-657-9821, Fax 623-9764. The
Apparel Group does business as Puff's at six locations in NM and TX. The women's apparel stores occupy spaces of 3,000
sq.ft. to 15,000 sq.ft. in strip centers. Plans
call for as many as 12 openings in the coming 18 months.
Expansion will take place in MO, NM, OK and TX. For more information, contact Kenneth MacIntyre,
The Apparel Group, 5700 North Mesa, El Paso, TX 79912; 915-595-1925, Fax 591-6175. Who's
Opening and Where... Vitamin
Health Centers (609-596-8200) plans to open two kiosk locations in FL and two kiosk
locations in NJ by the end of next month. The
company operates 20 kiosks, which sell vitamins and nutritional products, in DE, FL, NJ,
NY and PA. The
Athlete's Foot (404-514-4500) and Reebok International plan to open a 5,000 sq.ft. store
called The Athlete's Foot Presents Planet Reebok at the Flatiron Building in Atlanta, GA
during April. The temporary store will be
open until October. Blockbuster
Music (305-832-3000) plans to open 2,000 sq.ft. stores near the home electronics
department inside Sears department stores at Countryside Mall in Clearwater, FL and Tampa
Bay Center and University Square Mall in Tampa, FL during April. Lowe's
Cos., Inc. (910-651-4223) plans to open a 160,000 sq.ft. home improvement store in
Oklahoma City, OK by the end of this year. The
company recently opened a unit in Enid, OK and is looking to open stores in Stillwater,
Muskogee, Shawnee and Ponca City, OK. Ralphs
Supermarkets (310-884-9000) plans to open a 45,000 sq.ft. supermarket in downtown San
Diego, CA during October. Wal*Mart
(501-273-4000) plans to open a 63,000 sq.ft. supercenter in San Luis Potosi, Mexico during
the summer. The store will be the company's
14th in Mexico. The company is also planning
to open stores in Port Orchard, Longview, Bremerton and Bellingham, WA this year. Other sites in WA under consideration include
Renton, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Spokane and Gig Harbor. Conoco,
Inc. (713-293-5468) plans to open 20 service stations/convenience stores in the Wichita,
KS area during the next few years. Sears,
Roebuck and Co. (708-286-2500) plans to open a dealer-owned retail store in El Dorado, KS
during April. The store will carry home
appliances, electronics, lawn and garden equipment and tools. The company, which operates 375 dealer stores,
plans to open as many as 100 more this year. At
the Sears dealer stores, a local owner provides the store space, manages the business and
hires the staff. Sears owns the merchandise,
pays the store a commission on sales and pays for and schedules local advertising. Daka
International, Inc. (508-774-9900) plans to open five Fuddruckers restaurants in the
Jacksonville, FL area. The company operates
168 units nationwide. Parisian
(205-940-4000) plans to open a department store at Columbiana Centre in Columbia, SC next
month. Dillard's
Department Stores (501-376-5200) is planning to open a unit at Columbia Mall in Columbia,
SC during May. J.B.
White, a division of the Mercantile Stores (513-881-8000), is planning to open a
department store at Columbiana Centre in Columbia, SC by the end of this year. Waccamaw
Corp. (803-236-4606) plans to open a 54,000 sq.ft. home decorations store at the site of a
former Home Depot location at Center Gate Plaza in Sarasota, FL during June. The company operates 37 stores in AL, FL, GA, IL,
IN, NY, NC, SC, TN and VA. McDonald's
(708-575-3000) recently opened a 431 sq.ft. freestanding restaurant at Pascagoula Naval
Station in Pascagoula, MS. The restaurant,
the company's smallest, was specially designed for the base. It features a limited menu which does not include
the Egg McMuffin or the Quarter Pounder. The
company also recently opened its first restaurant in Zagreb, Croatia, the company's 90th
country. The company is looking to open three
more units in Croatia by the end of the year. Great
Clips (612-893-9088) opened 23 hair salons during January and is planning to open 180 more
during the balance of this year. The company
operates 676 units in 25 states and Canada. Hoyts
Cinemas Corporation (617-267-2700) plans to build a 32,000 sq.ft., 10-plex movie theater
at Frederick Towne Mall in Frederick, MD which is expected to open during November; a
36,100 sq.ft., 12-plex movie theater at Crossings at Fox Run in Newington, NH which is
expected to open during November; a 48,000 sq.ft., 12-plex movie theater in Westborough,
NH which is expected to open during November; a 50,000 sq.ft., 14-plex movie theater at
Solmon Pond Mall in Berlin, MA and a 50,000 sq.ft., 14-plex movie theater in Brewster, NY
which is expected to open during May 1997. Lil'
Things (817-649-6100), which operates 20 children's apparel stores in AZ, CO, OK and TX,
is planning to open as many as 12 units this year. The
company is looking to operate 100 stores by the year 2000. AMC
Theaters (816-221-4000) plans to open a 70,000 sq.ft., 20-screen movie complex at
Tallahassee Mall in Tallahassee, FL during August. Sizzler
(310-827-2300) recently opened a Sizzler American Grill test unit in Temecula, CA. The restaurant operates much like a traditional
Sizzler where customers walk through a line to place their orders and pay before being
seated. However, additional table services
are offered and the menu has been expanded to include a larger selection of grilled meats,
chicken and fish as well as pasta and sandwich items. Borders,
Inc. (313-913-1323) plans to open a 25,750 sq.ft. Borders Books Music & Cafe unit in
Henderson, NV during Spring and a 30,000 sq.ft. unit in Canton, OH this year. Spaghetti
Warehouse, Inc. (214-226-6000) recently opened a Cappellini's restaurant in Dallas, TX. The concept is an upscale family-style restaurant
featuring authentic Italian dishes prepared fresh to order, served in family-style
portions. American
Stores, Inc. (708-572-5000) plans to open a 38,000 sq.ft. Lucky supermarket at Arden Plaza
Shopping Center in Sacramento, CA. Tiger
Schulmann's Karate Centers (201-368-0707) plans to open a 20,000 sq.ft. superschool at
Midtown South Market in Manhattan, NY. The
company, which operates 25 locations throughout the Northeastern region and FL, is
planning as many as 10 additional units this year. Sources
of Financing ING
Capital (310-454-5757) recently closed on a $3.5 million transaction for the note purchase
and restructure of College Plaza Shopping Center in Santa Fe, NM. Largo
Real Estate Advisors, Inc. (716-854-8261) recently placed a $13.1 million permanent first
mortgage loan for a 55,000 sq.ft. Finast Supermarket in Brooklyn, NY; a $5.35 million
permanent first mortgage loan for five Rite Aid stores in western NY; an $8.5 million
permanent first mortgage loan for the 216,000 sq.ft. Irondequoit Shopping Plaza in
Irondequoit, NY; a $20.4 million permanent first mortgage loan for the 216,000 sq.ft. Big
Flats Consumer Square in Big Flats, NY; and a $1.4 million permanent first mortgage loan
for the 41,000 sq.ft. Haeberle Plaza in Niagara Falls, NY. First
Monroe, Inc. (716-473-9260) recently placed a $4.4 million permanent mortgage loan for a
61,500 sq.ft. Price Chopper Supermarket at Vails Gate Plaza in New Windsor, NY; a $4.4
million permanent mortgage loan for the 85,000 sq.ft. Auburn Town Center in Auburn, NY; a
$2.8 million permanent mortgage loan for a 35,000 sq.ft. Barnes & Noble in South Bend,
IN; an $8.5 million forward commitment for the 101,000 sq.ft. Malta Town Centre in Malta,
NY and a $3.2 million permanent mortgage loan for a 55,745 sq.ft. Dick's Sporting Goods in
Amherst, NY. Strategic
Solutions Group (603-253-3842) provides funds ranging from $750,000 to $7.5 million for
shopping centers and other income properties on a 10-year fixed and 25-year amortized
basis with two points and an interest rate of 7.95%. Lender
Overcharges on Adjustable Rate Loans by
Stanley Weinberger Lender
overcharges came into the news in the late 80s. Although
more borrowers are now aware of the problem, it has not gone away. Overcharges on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs)
including interest-only loans are not just the exception, but are more common than you
think. It is estimated that 68% of
commercial, 47% of residential and 74% of equity loans contain errors. Why so many errors?
Loan adjustment is an extremely complex process.
Errors in both residential and commercial loans can occur from incorrectly applied
rate change and lookback dates, margins, rate caps, ceilings and floors, insufficient
training of personnel, inadequate computer software, and more. In addition, commercial loans are more likely to
have errors because they frequently contain ambiguous contract language, varying accrual
methods, monthly interest rate changes, and less uniformity because of the lack of a
secondary market. Overcharges that are not corrected continue to
compound monthly with each payment at the rate being charged on the note. Here is an example of how even small errors can
skyrocket: On a $500,000 loan at 8% interest,
if the interest rate was off by only 1/2% for the first year, in only five years that
overcharge would amount to $3,537. The government has left it entirely up to
borrowers to challenge the validity of their loans.
Most property owners and their accountants don't have the time or resources to
check the accuracy of their often complicated ARMs. If
a borrower checks the index in the newspaper and double checks the bank's math, that is
only scratching the surface of where errors can occur. How can a borrower be sure he or she is paying the
right amount? Hire a professional, an
independent auditing service that specializes in checking ARMs. These organizations are skilled in analyzing
complex ARMs and they should have the software to audit any of the vast number of
different loans currently on the market. If
an error is discovered, some auditing services will act as middlemen when dealing with the
bank. Many charge an upfront processing fee
and a percentage of any overcharge recovered from the bank or servicer. Others work completely on a contingency basis,
collecting their fee only if they recover overcharges from the lender. Don't worry about undercharges, an auditing
service will not report any undercharges to the bank. If the loan has been sold, the chances are even
greater that an error may have occurred. By
law, the company who presently owns the loan is liable for any overcharges, no matter when
they occurred. Even if the loan has been paid
off or refinanced, the borrower has four to 20 years to contest the payments made and to
recover a refund depending on the state where the property exists. With some auditing companies charging no upfront
fees, borrowers have nothing to lose by having their mortgages checked. Stanley Weinberger is a partner of Weinberger and
Associates, specializing in auditing all types of commercial and residential ARMs on a
contingency fee basis. For more information,
call (810-968-1440) or visit their webpage site at http://www.armcheck.corpnet.com. Financial
News... Kmart
Corp.'s (810-643-1000) CEO Floyd Hall recently outlined his plans to turn the retailer
around. They call for keeping the company's
2,200 core discount stores open, issuing more stock, introduce a revitalized store layout
that emphasizes children's and women's clothing, hang on to Builders Square and test a
proprietary credit card. The company does not
plan to close many stores, but will close older stores in the 50,000 sq.ft. to 60,000
sq.ft. range. The company is also planning to
spend as much as $80 million a year to renovate older stores. Other merchandising plans include the addition of
telephones in every department so customers can call the customer-service desk for
immediate help and develop more private label items.
The company also learned that Moody's Investors Service cut its rating on its $6.8
billion debt to junk status because of the retailer's weakened financial flexibility and
the challenge its faces to retrench itself in a difficult retail environment. Venture
Stores, Inc. (314-281-5500) recently raised $40 million in cash through the sale-leaseback
of 16 stores with Kimco Realty Corporation. The
money will be used to help reposition the company from a discount chain to a family value
department store. The company also reported
that sales during its fiscal year fell 4.4% to $1.928 billion from $2.017 billion in its
previous fiscal year. Comparable store sales
fell 9.4% for the year. Mothers
Work, Inc. (215-625-9259) reported that net sales for its first fiscal quarter increased
152% to $50.05 million from $19.898 million last year.
The increase was mainly attributed to the acquisition of A Pea In The Pod stores
and Motherhood Maternity Shops. Comparable
store sales increased 6.2%. During the
quarter, the company opened six stores and closed 19 to end with 438 units compared to 182
units last year. The company operates 203
Motherhood Maternity stores, 94 Mothers Work stores, 61 Mimi Maternity stores, 41
Maternity Works stores and 36 A Pea in the Pod Stores. Starbucks
Corporation (206-447-1575) reported that consolidated net sales during its first fiscal
quarter increased 47% to $169.537 million from $115.545 million last year. Retail sales were up 45% and comparable store
sales increased four percent. During its
first quarter, the company opened 68 units and closed one.
Since the end of its first quarter, the company has opened 16 stores, including its
first five in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada market. The
company, which currently operates 759 units, is planning to open at least 191 additional
stores this year. Hi-Lo
Automotive, Inc. (713-991-6052) reported that its annual sales increased 11.5% to $262.5
million from $235.4 million last year. However,
comparable store sales fell 4.1%. Net income
dropped 81.5% to $1.7 million from $9.1 million. The
company operates 194 stores in CA, LA and TX. Gadzooks,
Inc. (214-991-5500) reported that its fiscal 1995 sales increased 49.8% to $84.6 million
from $56.463 million during FY94. Comparable
store sales increased 14.7%. The company
operates 126 specialty apparel stores in 21 states. Today's
Man, Inc. (609-235-5656) recently filed for reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code. The company plans to continue to
operate its business under court protection from creditors as it seeks to work out a plan
of reorganization. The company is also
seeking $25 million in debtor-in-possession financing.
The company operates 35 menswear superstores in PA, NY, IL, FL and Washington, D.C. No new store openings are planned for this year. Ben
Franklin Retail Stores, Inc. (708-462-6100) reported a third quarter net loss of $11.7
million compared to net income of $310,000 during the same quarter last year. The loss was attributed to charges and adjustments
related to restructuring charges and store closings.
The company also reported that net sales increased 9.2% to $102.9 million from
$94.2 million last year. The company operates
and franchises more than 580 variety stores and more than 300 craft stores nationwide. Baby
Superstore, Inc. (864-968-2506) reported that its fiscal year sales, ended January 31,
increased 66% to $291.2 million from $175.3 million during its last fiscal year. Comparable store sales increased 16%. During the fourth quarter the company opened 10
stores and currently operates 62 units in 18 states. Lease
Signings The
Galbreath Company/Alexander Summer Division L.L.C. (201-984-1717) leased 4,500 sq.ft. to
Meagom Corp. at Journal Square in Jersey City, NJ. The
company plans to operate a Dunkin' Donuts, A&W, Subway and Baskin Robbins at the site. Grubb
& Ellis Commercial Real Estate Services (714-937-0881) leased 25,000 sq.ft. to R Ranch
Markets in Compton, CA. Legend
Properties, Inc. (609-231-1010) leased space to Whole Foods in Philadelphia, PA and 25,000
sq.ft. to J.C. Penney for a discount furniture outlet store at Bristol Plaza in Bristol,
PA. Friedland
Realty, Inc. (914-968-8500) leased 21,000 sq.ft. to Sneaker Stadium in Paramus, NJ; 3,500
sq.ft. to Captain Video at the A&P/CVS Shopping Center in Ardsley, NY and 1,500 sq.ft.
to New Rochelle Uniforms in New Rochelle, NY. Great
American Brokerage, Inc. (212-557-7272) leased 1,600 sq.ft. to HEARx, Ltd. at Kimco's new
shopping center in Carle Place, NY. Lee
& Associates (619-929-9700) leased 1,200 sq.ft. to Hungry Howie's Pizza at Poway Plaza
Shopping Center in Poway, CA and 1,165 sq.ft. to Super 99 Cents and 1,175 sq.ft. to Poway
Taekwando at Carriage Center in Poway, CA. The
Greenberg Group, Inc. (516-295-0406) leased space to Portico Bed & Bath at
Bridgehampton Commons in Bridgehampton, NY. Boyd,
Page & Associates (713-877-8400) leased 18,500 sq.ft. to Cost Plus World Markets and
9,500 sq.ft. to Superior Waterbeds at a new retail center in Houston, TX and 52,500 sq.ft. to Hobby Lobby at a former
Sportstown location in Town & Country North Shopping Center in Houtson, TX. The
Goldstein Group (201-703-9700) leased space to Egghead Software in Paramus, NJ and space
to Eye Doctor at Plains Plaza in Pompton Plains, NJ. Divaris
Real Estate, Inc. (804-497-2113) leased 3,600 sq.ft. to Open Road Bike Shop at Corner
Shops at Maxwell Lane in Newport News, VA. RJS/Jackson
(407-395-1200) leased 2,010 sq.ft. to Sushi Club, Inc. at Emerald Woods Plaza in
Hollywood, FL and 1,200 sq.ft. to Watermart, Inc. at Greenwood Shopping Centre in Palm
Springs, FL. Exclusives:
Leasing & Management Assignments Mid-America
Real Estate Corp. (708-954-7300) is the exclusive Chicago, IL area representative for
KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. The company
recently handled site selection and leasing arrangements for new 6,000 sq.ft. centers in
Lombard, Palos Heights and Rolling Meadow, IL and 10,000 sq.ft. to 11,000 sq.ft. centers
in Aurora, Mundelein and Tinley Park, IL. The
David Cronheim Company (201-635-2180) has been named the exclusive leasing agent for 6209
Bergenline Avenue, a 10,250 sq.ft. retail facility in Hudson County, NY. Metro
Commercial Real Estate, Inc. (609-866-1900) has been named the exclusive leasing agent for
the Philadelphia Home & Design Centre in Philadelphia, PA. Located adjacent to the Franklin Mills Mall, the
225,000 sq.ft. project is anchored by Hechinger, CompUSA, Pier 1 Imports and Goods
Furniture. Legend
Properties, Inc. (609-231-1010) is the exclusive leasing agent of The Marketplace at
Huntingdon Valley in Huntingdon Valley, PA. The
235,000 sq.ft. project is anchored by SuperFresh, Regal Cinema, Sears Hardware, Thrift
Drug, Zany Brainy and Bertucci's Restaurant. The
company has been named the exclusive representative for Nutri Rx for its expansion into
the Philadelphia, PA market. Nutri Rx is
seeking spaces running 2,000 sq.ft. in neighborhood shopping centers. The company has also been named the exclusive
representative for Grow Biz International. Shelter
Bay Retail Group (415-388-4460) has been named the asset/property manager of Riverside
Plaza in Riverside, CA. The 617,000 sq.ft.
project is anchored by Montgomery Ward, Harris Department Store, Vons Supermarket, Sav-on
Drugs and Wherehouse Entertainment. Neal
Realty & Investments, Inc. (305-568-0530) has been awarded the exclusive marketing
contract for Cooper City Wal*Mart, a 200,000 sq.ft. shopping center in Cooper City, FL. United
Commercial Realty (210-822-5000) has been appointed the exclusive leasing agent for
Frederick Circle Shopping Center in San Antonio, TX.
The 81,673 sq.ft. project is anchored by Handy Andy, Eckerd Drugs and Peter Piper
Pizza. Buyers
& Sellers of Commercial Properties KLNB,
Inc. brokered the sale of 7.8 acres of land at Snowden Square Center in Columbia, MD to
United Artist Theatre Circuit, Inc. for a 10-screen movie complex. For more information, contact Karen Wilner at
(703-356-8230). Grubb
& Ellis, Newport Beach, CA has the listing to sell an 80,000 sq.ft.
supermarket-anchored shopping center in Orange, CA.
The project is located at a major intersection across from a regional mall. The asking price is $8.4 million. For more information, contact Mia Terry at
(714-833-2909, Ext. 214), Fax (833-8037). Allen
Fuller Co. Realtors has the listing to sell single tenant NNN leases. Companies include Payless ShoeSource, Best Buy and
Barnes & Noble. The company has the
listing to sell a 53,275 sq.ft. shopping center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The 95% occupied project has an asking price of
$1.82 million. The company represents clients
in the market to acquire single tenant NNN leases. Properties
of interest have a minimum credit rating of BB, a minimum of 15 years remaining on lease,
CPI or fixed increases and at least a 9% cap. Prices
running $2 million to $10 million will be considered. For more information, contact David Mufson at
(305-532-0881), Fax (532-0882). H.
Stephen Kirschner, Inc. has the listing to sell a 100% interest or joint venture
opportunity on a development project scheduled to open in the Midwest during Spring, 1997. The project will consist of a regional mall, an
office building, two hotels, and an entertainment complex.
The company represents a private investment trust in the market to acquire enclosed
malls nationwide. Preferred properties have
GLAs of at 500,000 sq.ft. and are anchored by at least three fashion department stores. The company also represents a client in the market
to joint venture approved retail development sites 100,000 sq.ft. to 600,000 sq.ft. Preferred projects are at least 50% pre-leased. For more information, contact H. Stephen Kirschner
at (516-462-2200), Fax (499-3322). CB
Commercial Real Estate Group, Inc. of Los Angeles brokered the sale of a 16,085 sq.ft.
freestanding building in San Dimas, CA. The
buyer was Pacific Sales, a home furnishings and appliances company, and the purchase price
was $1 million. For more information, contact Robert Smith at
(818-810-6410). Divaris
Real Estate, Inc. represented Chi-Chi's, Inc. in its sale of a 7,250 sq.ft. former
restaurant in front of Midlothian Marketplace Shopping Center in Richmond, VA. The buyer was Sino-American Associates who plans
to open a Chinese restaurant at the site. For more information, contact Gerald Divaris at
(804-497-2113). Sevo
Miller, Inc. has the listing to sell Green Gables Shopette in Lakewood, CO. The 23,420 sq.ft. project is anchored by Amoco. The asking price is $1.4 million. For more information, contact Sevo Miller, Inc. at
(303-721-1000), Fax (721-7249). Thomas
Horn Realty has a co-listing with Lebanon Realty to sell two parcels of land, one 1.9
acres and the other .69 acres, in Lebanon, OR. The
sites are zoned highway commercial. For more information, contact Thomas Horn at
(541-479-6900), Fax (479-2702). The
Winfield Group, Inc. has the listing to sell a 13,000 sq.ft. automotive center anchored by
Jiffy Lube, All Tune & Lube and Meineke Muffler.
The site is located at the entrance to a new Home Depot. The asking price is $1.4 million. For more information, contact Steve Tate at
(703-760-8990), Fax (790-0037). M.B.
Roberts Company has the listing to sell six La Petite Academy, Inc. NNN leases in MD, MO
and VA. All of the properties are offered at
a 10% cap and have at least 11 years remaining on original 15-year leases. The St. Louis, MO location is a stand-alone
facility and the five in MD and VA can be purchased individually or as a package with
possible refinancing from the existing lender. For more information, contact Mike Roberts at
(816-561-3404), Fax (561-5512). Stephen
M. Segal, Inc. has the listing to sell seven acres of land in Hamilton Township, NJ. The site is zoned commercial and located adjacent
to Suburban Plaza which is anchored by Caldor, Shop-Rite and Drug Emporium. The asking price is $1.05 million. The company also has the listing to sell two
retail buildings in Trenton, NJ. The first
floors contain 5,000 sq.ft. each and the second floor contains 2,000 sq.ft. Both units have large storefront display windows. The asking price is $219,000. For more information, contact Stephen Segal (land)
or Anne LaBate (stores) at (609-896-3399), Fax (895-1408). Downs
Investment Properties has the listing to sell a 7,000 sq.ft. corner retail building in
Melbourne, FL. The site is 100% leased and
has an NOI of $44,000. The asking price is
$420,000. For more information, contact Thomas Downs at
(407-725-3000), Fax (676-0792). Harry's
Farmers Market, Inc. recently sold a former supermarket in Clayton County, GA to Fresh
Express, Inc. for $4.425 million. For more information, contact Harry's Farmers
Market, Inc. at (770-664-6300). First
Realty has the listing to sell 15 acres of land in Manahawkin, NJ. The site has 2,400 feet of frontage on Route 9 and
is approved for 80,000 sq.ft. of retail and office space.
The asking price is $275,000. For more information, contact First Realty at
(609-698-6100), Fax (698-0005). The
Macerich Company recently acquired Villa Marina Marketplace in Marina del Rey, CA. The 459,000 sq.ft. project is anchored by Vons
Supermarket, Gelson's Market, Sav-On Drugs, Sports Chalet, United Artists Theaters,
Cineplex Odeon Theaters, Barnes & Noble, Good Guys and The Gap. The acquisition price was $80 million. For more information, contact Thomas O'Hern at
(310-394-6911). C.W.
Clark, Inc. has the listing to sell a ground lease of Cinema Star in Chula Vista, CA. The nine-screen theater is located at a power
center anchored by Home Depot, Kmart and Price Club.
The stabilized NNN income is $255,000 annually.
The asking price is $2.65 million. For more information, contact Bob Clark at
(619-452-7170), Fax (453-7260). Childs
Realty Group has the listing to sell a freestanding building at Lakehurst Shopping Center
in Waukegan, IL. The 36,350 sq.ft. building
was formerly occupied by Child World. The
asking price is $1.9 million. The building
can also be leased for $5 per square foot, NNN. For more information, contact Stuart Lenhoff or
Jerry Schiff at (708-870-8585). Bay
Area Mall LLC, a subsidiary of Aetna Life Insurance Company, recently acquired Bay Area
Outlet Mall in Clearwater, FL. The 288,000
sq.ft. project is anchored by TJ Maxx, Beall's Outlet and Linens 'N Things. For more information, contact Michael H. Capaccio
at (860-275-4872). AmCap,
Inc. is in the market to acquire supermarket anchored strip centers have GLAs of at least
150,000 sq.ft. in major metropolitan areas nationwide. For more information, contact Ricki Singer at
(203-327-2001), Fax (327-2003). ACRES,
Inc. has the listing to sell 162 acres of land in Terrel, TX. The site is located 18 miles east of Dallas, TX
and one-half mile from the 280,000 sq.ft. Tanger Outlet Mall. The site is level and bounded by a creek, Texas
Highway 148 and Interstate 20. The site is
zoned retail, commercial, industrial and apartments.
The asking price is $1.3 million and financing is possible. For more information, contact G.R.
"Andy" Anderson at (214-458-9590), Fax (458-0290). Coldwell
Banker has the listing to sell a 55,000 sq.ft. big box location in Salem, OR. The project is occupied by a tenant with a short
term lease. The asking price is $3.495
million. For more information, contact Bill Frey at
(503-588-3522, Ext. 321), Fax (588-3514). Lead
Sheet The
Tie Rack, Inc. dba
The Tie Rack Heather
La Rocque 145
Renfrew Drive/ Unit 130 Markham,
Ontario, Canada L3R 9R6 905-470-6290,
Fax 479-2546 Accessories The
62-unit chain operates locations throughout North America.
The men's and women's accessories stores occupy spaces of 600 sq.ft. in regional
malls. Plans call for five openings in the
coming 18 months. Expansion will take place
nationwide. Pearl
Artist & Craft dba
Pearl Paint R.
Pearl 1033
East Oakland Park Boulevard Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33334 305-564-5700 Arts
& Crafts The
17-unit chain operates locations in NY, NJ, VA, MA, TX, FL, GA, MD and CA. The stores, selling art and craft supplies, occupy
spaces of 10,000 sq.ft. to 12,000 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities and strip centers. Plans call for three openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place in CA. Book
Management, Inc. dba
Atlantic Book Warehouse Warren
Weiner 979
Bethlehem Pike Montgomeryville,
PA 18936 215-661-0450,
Fax 661-0472 Books The
14-unit chain operates locations in DE, NJ and PA. The
stores, stocking over 100,000 titles at discount price points, occupy spaces of 15,000
sq.ft. to 18,000 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities and outlet centers. Plans call for six openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place in DE, NJ,
PA, NY, MD and VA. Index
Notion Co., Inc. dba
The Wooden Key James
Sinclair 887
West Carmel Drive Carmel,
IN 46032 317-573-3990,
Fax 573-3992 Cards
& Gifts The
22-unit chain operates locations in IL and IN. The
stores, selling cards and gifts, occupy spaces of 4,000 sq.ft. in regional malls, power
and strip centers. Plans call for two
openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place throughout IN. Kindercare
Learning Centers dba
Kindercare, Kid's Choice Tim
Bossy c/o
Mid-America Real Estate 2
Mid-America Plaza/ Suite 330 Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181 708-954-7300 Child
Care The
60-unit chain operates locations in IL. The
child care centers occupy spaces of 8,000 sq.ft. to 11,000 sq.ft. in freestanding
facilities. Plans call for 10 openings in the
coming 18 months. Expansion will take place
in the existing market. The company, which is
phasing out its Kid's Choice concept, is looking for land parcels, 40,000 sq.ft. to 60,000
sq.ft., in high-growth areas of IL. Sally
Beauty Co., Inc. dba
Sally Beauty Supply Ms.
Jamie Moore 3900
Morse Denton,
TX 76205 817-898-7608,
Fax 381-9022 Cosmetics The
1,479-unit chain operates locations nationwide. The
stores, selling beauty supplies at discount price points, occupy spaces of 1,600 sq.ft. in
downtown store fronts, power and strip centers. Plans
call for 120 openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place nationwide. Dollar
Discount Stores of America, Inc. dba
Dollar Discount Mitchell
Insel 1362
Naamans Creek Road Boothwyn,
PA 19061 610-497-1991,
Fax 485-6439 Discount The
43-unit chain operates locations in CT, VT, PA, NJ, DE, MI, MD, GA and SC. The stores, selling merchandise at a one dollar
price point, occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. to 4,000 sq.ft. in power and strip centers. Preferred anchors include supermarkets. Plans call for 24 openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place nationwide. Preferred demographics include a population of
50,000 within three miles earning $25,000 as the average income. The company, which is franchising, typically signs
leases running three to five years with options. MPI
School & Instructional Supply dba
The Teacher's Store Shelley
Lowe 1200
Keystone Lansing,
MI 48910 517-393-0440,
Fax 393-8884 Educational
Supplies The
five-unit chain operates locations in IL and MI. The
stores, selling educational materials, occupy spaces of 6,000 sq.ft. in freestanding
facilities. Plans call for as many as two
openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place in IL, OH or WI. Lakes
Sewing Centers, Inc. dba
Singer Sewing & Vacuums Pat
Mulqueen 1048
East Baseline Road Tempe,
AZ 85283 602-838-1688,
Fax 897-6111 Electronics The
eight-unit chain operates locations in AZ. The
stores, offering the sales and service of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners, occupy
spaces of 1,200 sq.ft. to 2,000 sq.ft. in strip centers.
Plans call for one opening in the coming 18 months.
Expansion will take place in the existing market. Scoops
& Tubes Dee
Childers c/o
Venture Development Corp. 233
West 47th Street Kansas
City, MO 64112 816-531-8898 In CA,
call 408-255-1151 Entertainment The
two-unit chain operates locations in CA. The
concept offers soft play equipment, arcade games and refreshments while using spaces of
12,000 sq.ft. in regional malls and strip centers. Growth
opportunities are sought in the existing market. The
Tree Factory dba
Silk Plant Forest David
Elden 5639
Brookshire Boulevard Charlotte,
NC 28216 704-399-4446,
Fax 399-0140 Florist The
nine-unit chain operates locations in GA, NC, SC, TN and VA. The stores, selling silk plants, trees and garden
items, occupy spaces of 3,000 sq.ft. in power and specialty centers. Plans call for three openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place in the
Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern and Southeastern regions. Tiffany
& Co. Cecilia
Powers 727
5th Avenue New
York, NY 10022 212-605-4696,
Fax 605-4364 Jewelry The
95-unit chain operates locations worldwide. The
jewelry stores occupy spaces of 8,000 sq.ft. to 10,000 sq.ft. in shopping centers catering
to an affluent clientele. Plans call for
three openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place nationwide. JAC
Enterprises dba
Duds 'N Suds John
Campbell 1000
Shelard Parkway/ Suite 320 Minneapolis,
MN 55426 612-541-1514,
Fax 542-2246 Laundromat The
50-unit chain operates locations nationwide. The
laundromats, which feature snack bars and televisions, occupy spaces of 2,500 sq.ft. to
3,500 sq.ft. in downtown store fronts, freestanding facilities and strip centers. Growth opportunities are sought nationwide. Music
City Record Distributors dba
Cat's Music Chuck
Thatcher PO Box
22773 Nashville,
TN 37202 615-255-7315,
Fax 255-7329 Music The
22-unit chain operates locations in AL, IN, SC and TN.
The stores, selling pre-recorded music and related products, occupy spaces of 2,500
sq.ft. to 5,000 sq.ft. in downtown store fronts, freestanding facilities and strip
centers. Plans call for as many as six
openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place in northern AL, NC, SC and the Gulf Coast. E.B.
Brown Opticals dba
E.B. Brown Opticians Gordon
Safran 1549
East 30th Street Cleveland,
OH 44114 216-241-0474,
Fax 241-4563 Optical The
42-unit chain operates locations in OH and PA. The
stores, offering eyewear and hearing aids, occupy spaces of 1,000 sq.ft. in power centers
and regional malls. Plans call for two
openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place in the existing markets. Eagle
Pacific dba
Scamps Pet Centers Michael
Twain 203
S.E. Alder #202 Portland,
OR 97214 503-239-4266,
Fax 239-4268 Pet
Store The
17-unit chain operates locations in OR and WA. The
pet stores occupy spaces of 2,000 sq.ft. to 10,000 sq.ft. in regional malls, power and
strip centers. Growth opportunities are
sought in OR. Cord
Camera Centers, Inc. dba
Cord Camera Video, 55 Minute Photo Mark
Eckhoff PO Box
44406 Columbus,
OH 42304 614-276-5000,
Fax 276-7686 Photography The
27-unit chain operates locations in OH and IN. The
stores, which offer photo processing services and sell cameras, camcorders and photography
supplies, occupy spaces of 800 sq.ft. to 5,000 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities and strip
centers having good visibility, close parking and drive-thru capabilities. Plans call for five openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place throughout
IN. Packaging
and Shipping Specialist Mike
Gallagher 3513
103rd Street/ Suite 104 Lubbock,
TX 79423 806-745-5588,
Fax 745-6810 Service The
304-unit chain operates locations nationwide. The
stores, offering U.S. Mail and UPS services, high speed copying, color copying and fax
services as well as mail box rentals, occupy spaces of 1,000 sq.ft. to 1,500 sq.ft. in
outlet, power and strip centers. Plans call
for 75 openings in the coming 18 months. Expansion
will take place nationwide. Nevada
Bob's Golf & Tennis dba
Nevada Bob's Pro Shop Bob
Hulley 3311
East Flamingo Las
Vegas, NV 89121 702-451-3333,
Fax 451-9378 Sporting
Goods The
325-unit chain operates locations worldwide. The
stores, specializing in the sales of top of the line golf and tennis equipment, occupy
spaces of 4,000 sq.ft. to 5,000 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities and strip centers. Plans call for 25 openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place worldwide. Pacific
Theatres Neil
Haltrecht 120
North Robertson Boulevard Los
Angeles, CA 90048 310-657-8420,
Fax 652-8538 Theatre The
company operates 350 screens in CA and HI. The
theaters occupy spaces of 30,000 sq.ft. to 35,000 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities. Plans call for three openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place in the
existing markets. Toys
International Gayle
Hoepner 2900
Bristol Street/ Suite A208 Costa
Mesa, CA 92626 714-549-8771 Toys The
four-unit chain operates locations in CA. The
toy stores occupy spaces of 1,000 sq.ft. to 3,200 sq.ft. in regional malls. Growth opportunities are sought in the existing
market. Travel
Fest Gary
Hoover 1214
West 6th Street/ Suite 200 Austin,
TX 78703 512-479-6131,
Fax 479-6380 Travel
Agency The
two-unit chain operates locations in TX. The
stores sell luggage, maps and books and offer travel services, language classes and fear
of flying classes while occupying spaces of 11,000 sq.ft. in downtown store fronts. Plans call for two openings in the coming 18
months. Expansion will take place in the
existing market. Family
Dollar Store Stephen
Simms PO Box
1017 Charlotte,
NC 28201-1017 704-847-6961,
Fax 847-0189 Variety The
2,400-unit chain operates locations throughout the Eastern two-thirds of the United
States. The stores, selling general
merchandise at discounted price points, occupy spaces of 6,000 sq.ft. to 8,000 sq.ft. in
freestanding facilities and strip centers. Plans
call for at least 200 openings in the coming 18 months.
Expansion will take place in the existing markets. Real
Estate Professionals Making News Scotmar
Property Associates, Inc. (610-825-7494) recently formed a Restaurant Placement and
Development Division and appointed Donna M. Drew as assistant vice president and director
of the new division. The objective of the new
division is to assist restaurateurs in securing sites. Horizon
Group (616-798-9100) announces that William H. Neville has been appointed to the
newly-created post of president for the Eastern Region of Horizon. Neville will be responsible for overseeing
leasing, development, construction, and asset management for the 14 outlet centers in FL,
GA, KY, MD, NY, OH, PA, TX and VA. Oxford
Real Estate Services Group, Inc. (203-222-3939) announces its affiliation with HRN
Construction Management Design, Inc. HRN will
enable Oxford to provide a more comprehensive offering to clients and early resolution of
tenant fit up, development and other design and construction issues. Spec's
Music (305-592-7288) announces that Barry Gibbons has been named chairman of the company. Gibbons, who replaces founder Martin Spector, is
the former CEO at Burger King. Spector
remains with the company as honorary chairman. Michael
Swerdlow Companies, Inc. (954-967-2838) announces that Victor B. Suvall has joined the
company as vice president of redevelopment and leasing. Just
For Feet, Inc. (205-987-3450) announces that James Powers has joined the company as senior
regional director of company stores. The
Midland Group (314-576-1900) was named Property Management Company of the Year by the
Institute of Real Estate Management of the National Association of Realtors. Manhattan
Bagel Company (908-544-0155) announces that Eugene D. Cerrotti has joined the company as
senior vice president of development. In
this newly created position, Cerrotti will oversee and coordinate the activities of the
company's construction, real estate and franchising departments. He will also direct regional franchisor relations. Boston
Chicken, Inc. (303-278-9500) announces that Laurence M. Zwain has joined the company in
the newly created position of president and chief executive officer of its Boston Market
concept. Zwain will work with co-chairman and
president Saad Nadhir to develop the Boston Market brand in the U.S. and internationally
and will be responsible for all functional areas of the Boston Market concept, including
marketing, product development, operations, partner development, human resources, store
design and real estate. The
International Council of Shopping Centers (212-421-8181) has nominated Charles B.
Lebovitz, chairman of the board, president and CEO of CBL & Associates Properties,
Inc. as chairman of the ICSC for the 1996-97 term. The
ICSC's board of trustees will vote in May. Mid-America
Real Estate Group (708-954-7300) announces that John May and Rick Drogosz have joined the
company as vice president and senior investment broker, respectively. Divaris
Real Estate, Inc. (804-497-2113) announce the creation of a joint venture with Sigma
Realty Management to form a new national property management company. The new company will be known as Divaris National
and headed by Martin E. Winters. The
Mills Corporation (202-965-3600) announces that Howard J. Samuels has joined the company
as senior executive vice President, Leasing. He
will be responsible for directing anchor tenant leasing, peripheral land sales, and
developing entertainment and retail users within Mills projects. Factory
Card Outlet (708-238-0010) announces that Charles R. Cumello has been promoted to
president and CEO. Conversions,
Expansions & Renovations LaSalle
Partners, leasing and management agent for Coastland Center in Naples, FL, is currently
overseeing a $50 million expansion and renovation at the project. The project's four anchors, Burdines, Dillard's,
J.C. Penney and Sears, will all be expanded and the 546,000 sq.ft. project with 112
specialty stores will grow to 960,000 sq.ft. and 150 specialty stores. The project will get new entrances, landscaping,
flooring, lighting and ceilings. Three new
parking decks will be added to accommodate 1,937 cars.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. For more information, contact LaSalle Partners at
(312-782-5800). The
FIRC Group is currently redeveloping Miami Gardens Drive Shopping Center in North Miami,
FL. The 120,000 sq.ft. project will be
anchored by a 48,000 sq.ft. Winn-Dixie Marketplace, Pep Boys and Blockbuster Video. Several outparcels are available. The company is also redeveloping The Jacaranda
Plaza in Plantation, FL. The 200,000 sq.ft.
project, which is located at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and University Drive,
which generate a combined daily traffic count of 99,000 cars, is anchored by Publix
Supermarket and Eckerd Drug. A 50,000 sq.ft.
space, which can be subdivided, is available for lease. For more information, contact Albert Fraga or Bill
Ogden at (305-443-2508). Vector
Properties, Inc. plans to remodel and reposition Southroads Mall in Tulsa, OK beginning
next month. The project will also be expanded
by 72,000 sq.ft. New tenants at the project
will include a 76,000 sq.ft. Price Mart, Oshman's Supersports U.S.A. and a 20-screen AMC
movie theater. For more information, contact Vector Properties,
Inc. at (918-587-1700). Mergers
& Acquisitions Fred
Meyer, Inc. (503-232-8844) plans to acquire 23 mall jewelry stores in CA and WA. The stores to be acquired operate under the
tradenames Kay, Friedlander, Weisfield and Hudson Goodman.
The deal is expected to be closed during April and the stores will be renamed Fred
Meyer Jewelers. Sonic
Corp. (405-280-7654) recently signed a letter of intent to acquire 18 restaurants from a
franchisee group in TN for $8.6 million. The
transaction is expected to close during May. The
company operates more than 1,500 drive-in
restaurants in 27 states. Smith's
Food & Drug Centers, Inc. (801-974-1490) and Smitty's Supermarkets, Inc. recently
entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire 28 units. Under the deal, Smith's will issue over three
million shares of its Class B Common Stock in exchange for all of Smitty's outstanding
common stock and it will assume or refinance $148 million of Smitty's debt. The deal is expected to close during May. PetsMart,
Inc. (602-944-7070) recently completed its acquisition of State Line Tack, Inc. for
600,000 shares of PetsMart common stock. State
Line Tack is the leading world-wide catalog retailer specializing in discount brand name
tack, riding apparel and equine supplies. In
addition, the company operates five retail stores in DE, NH and TX. Burger
King Corp. (305-378-3243) recently acquired 57 Burger King restaurants in FL and GA from
Davgar Restaurants, Inc., one of the company's franchisees.
The restaurants were purchased for $55.6 million. Fleming
Companies, Inc. (405-841-8313) recently completed the sale of 28 Brooks convenience stores
in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area to Twin Cities Stores, Inc. Twin Cities plans to operate the stores under the
Oasis tradename. Under a separate agreement,
Fleming Cos. will continue to supply the convenience stores with food and general
merchandise for three years. Space
Place Florida Orlando- Longwood Shopping Center is anchored by Big Lots
and Eckerd Drugs. The project has a 30,000
sq.ft. anchor position available for lease as well as spaces of 2,400 sq.ft., 3,000 sq.ft.
and two spaces running 3,025 sq.ft. each. For details, contact John Compton or David Reif of
Midland at (314-576-1900). New
Jersey Marlboro- Cambridge Square Shopping Plaza is anchored by
ShopRite, Kmart, Blockbuster Video and TGIF. The
230,000 sq.ft. newly constructed project has a 6,000 sq.ft. space, which is subdividable
to 2,000 sq.ft., available for lease. For details, contact Mario Dudzinski of Garden
Homes Commercial at (201-467-5000), Fax (467-0654). New
York Plattsburgh- Plattsburgh Plaza is anchored by Lake Country IGA,
True Value and Family Dollar. The 180,000
sq.ft. project has spaces of 3,000 sq.ft. and 6,912 sq.ft. available for lease. A 2 1/2 acre outparcel is also available for
lease. The site fronts Route 3. For details, contact Lisa Diffenback of
Plattsburgh Plaza Associates at (518-439-9030), Fax (439-8259). North
Carolina High
Point- College Village is anchored by Food
Lion and Eckerd Drugs. The 142,000 sq.ft.
project has a 38,000 sq.ft. space, which can be subdivided, available for lease. The site is located near Oak Hollow Mall. For details, contact James Downs of Aston
Properties at (704-366-7337), Fax (365-3215). Raleigh- Walnut Creek Shopping Center is anchored by Food
Lion and Revco. The 56,000 sq.ft. project has
spaces for lease in a 10-acre expansion. A
pad site is also available for lease. Demographics
include a five-mile population of 114,000 earning $38,000 as the average household income. For details, contact David Rosen of Rosen
Associates Management Corp. at (516-822-5350), Fax (433-3821). Ohio Toledo- Dimensions Plaza is anchored by ABC Warehouse. The 35,732 sq.ft. project has spaces of 980 sq.ft.
and 6,095 sq.ft. available for lease. The
site fronts Reynolds and Glendale which generate a combined daily traffic count of 52,000
vehicles. Demographics include a five-mile
population of 160,543 earning $50,508 as the average income. Also in Toledo-
Dorr Plaza is anchored by Rite Aid. The
38,805 sq.ft. project has spaces of 1,746 sq.ft., 2,000 sq.ft. and 11,460 sq.ft. available
for lease. The site fronts Dorr Street. Demographics include a five-mile population of
226,190 earning $37,177 as the average income. For details, contact Harry Ong or Sam Zyndorf of
Zyndorf/Serchuk, Inc. at (419-249-7070), Fax (255-2439). Woodmere- A 2,300 sq.ft. space is available for lease at
Chagrin Centre. The site fronts Chagrin
Boulevard which has a daily traffic count of 70,000 vehicles. For details, contact Ronnie Kertesz of Chagrin
Centre, Inc. at (216-831-9110), Fax (292-7529). South
Carolina Columbia- Spring Valley Commons is anchored by Bi-Lo
Supermarket and Rite Aid. The 88,550 sq.ft.
project has a 19,880 sq.ft. building available for lease.
The site fronts Two Notch Road and Rabon Road.
Demographics include a five-mile population of 73,000 earning $50,000 as the
average family income. For details, contact James Downs of Aston
Properties at (704-366-7337), Fax (365-3215). Virginia Front
Royal- Gateway Plaza is anchored by Food
Lion, Revco and Fashion Bug. The 110,495
sq.ft. project has a 25,000 sq.ft. space available for lease. For details, contact James Downs of Aston
Properties at (704-366-7337), Fax (365-3215). Store
Closings Handy
Andy Home Improvement Centers, Inc. (708-517-4000) plans to liquidate its remaining 54
stores in IL, MI, MO, OH and WI by the end of June. The
company had been forced into involuntary bankruptcy last October. Sportmart
(708-966-1700) plans to close its four No Contest! stores in St. Louis, MO and
Minneapolis, MN as well as two Sportmart stores in Chicago and Wheeling, IL. AT&T
Corp. (908-580-4372) plans to close its remaining 338 retail stores nationwide by the end
of April. At one time, the company operated
more than 1,000 units. The company will
continue to manufacture and distribute its products to other retailers. Color
Tile Corp. (817-870-9400) plans to close 234 underperforming stores as part of its
bankruptcy reorganization plan. The company
is exiting the Seattle, WA market by closing its 12 stores and the Orlando, FL market by
closing four stores. CA is losing 27 stores
and St. Louis, MO is losing four units. Spaghetti
Warehouse, Inc. (214-226-6000) plans to close its restaurants in Hartford, CT; Providence,
RI; Buffalo, NY; Rochester, NY; Columbia, SC; Greenville, SC and Little Rock, AR. Merry-Go-Round
Enterprises, Inc. (410-538-1000) plans to liquidate its assets and close its 536 stores
trading as Merry-Go-Round, Cignal and Dejaiz/Attivo. Ernst
Home Centers (206-621-6700) plans to close 10 stores by the end of June. Retailers
Keeping Up with The Times Gurnee
Mills Mall (708-263-7500) recently became the first shopping center in IL to establish a
web site. The site allows cyber-shoppers a
chance to browse through a complete list of stores by category, review a calendar of
events and ask questions about the mall via E-mail. The
Gurnee Mills web site is linked to the web sites of other Mills malls as well as to the
web sites of Gurnee Mills merchants. The site
can be accessed at http://gurneemillsmall.com. Tanger
Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (910-274-1666) recently announced the nationwide rollout of
its "Relax. It's Guaranteed." program. The
program is a cash-back best price guarantee offered on all merchandise available at every
store in Tanger's 27 centers. The program
promises a cash refund of the price difference if a customer purchases an item from a
Tanger Outlet Center store, and then finds it advertised for less, within 30 days, at any
other retail establishment. Tanger becomes
the first developer to offer this best price guarantee. Wal*Mart
(501-273-4000) is looking to open a store site on the Internet this Spring and is working
with Microsoft to accomplish that goal. Wal*Mart,
which has been working on the project for several months, is planning to offer many of the
same departments on-line that are found in their stores.
However, the company needs to work out the details on how these products will be
purchased and delivered. Target
Stores (612-370-6073) and First Bank System, Inc. have teamed up to offer a co-branded
Visa credit card in two markets. The card, a
first offered by a major discounter, allows users to earn discounts at Target stores
wherever they use the card. The companies
expect to expand the program to other markets over the course of this year. Interweb,
Inc. (516-365-3594) has designed a two-story 3-D mall with 72 stores in four wings
branching out from a Cyberspace foyer where shoppers can view and purchase merchandise
using their credit cards. The creator of the
mall has developed a secure Mosaic server which will make credit card transactions in
Cyberspace secure. The mall can be visited
from the home page of Interweb, Inc. at http://www.interwebinc.com. ICentral
(801-373-4347) recently created ShopSite on the World Wide Store system, a menu-driven,
turnkey Internet storefront creation program that lets anyone with a browser open an
Internet store immediately. ShopSite is where
the new Web stores are housed. ICentral
created both the World Wide Store system and ShopSite to help eliminate the barriers of
entry into the Internet for small businesses. A
World Wide Store is available immediately upon ordering, and after a few minutes of
setting up the shop, the merchant can begin taking orders.
Customization and updates can be done at any time.
To see a demonstration of the World Wide Store system go to:
http://www.shopsite.com. Target
Stores (612-370-6073) and First Bank System, Inc. have teamed up to offer a co-branded
Visa credit card in two markets. The card, a
first offered by a major discounter, allows users to earn discounts at Target stores
wherever they use the card. The companies
expect to expand the program to other markets over the course of this year. Blockbuster
Entertainment Group (305-832-3000) plans to launch a stored value electronic giftcard that
can be used the same as cash at Blockbuster Video stores, Blockbuster Music stores and
Discovery Zone FunCenters. The concept was
tested last year in Salt Lake City, UT and permits gift-givers the opportunity to give
cash while permitting recipients the freedom to make their own purchasing decisions. The giftcard looks like a credit card and works
like a pre-paid phone card. Correction In the
December 15, 1995 issue of The Dealmakers the square footage requirements for Car Toys,
Inc. (206-443-0980) was incorrectly reported. The
company is seeking spaces running 5,500 sq.ft. in freestanding facilities located in OR
and WA. In the
January 19, 1996 issue of The Dealmakers the address for Dryclean-USA was incorrectly
reported. The correct address is
Dryclean-USA, Laura Owens, 51 West 135th Street, Kansas City, MO 64145; 816-943-0575, Fax
943-1075. In the
January 26, 1996 issue of The Dealmakers the real estate contact person for Carlton Cards
Retail, Inc. was incorrectly reported. The
director of real estate is Gene Gaydos. He
can be reached at Carlton Cards Retail, Inc., 1 American Road, Brooklyn, OH 44144-2398;
216-252-8800. |