Chitowngus LLC, a regional franchise holder for fast casual restaurant chain Hurricane Grill & Wings, appointed KLNB Retail as its exclusive leasing broker in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia trade areas. The franchise entity plans to open up to 40 new restaurants in the region.
Keith Barnett and Ryan Wilner, principals with KLNB Retail, will handle site selection and leasing for this assignment.
The chain’s optimum restaurant size is 3,500 square feet, but it takes locations ranging from 3,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet. KLNB will target high visibility, high traffic locations for Hurricane Grill & Wings, consisting primarily of freestanding or end-cap properties with outdoor seating opportunities.
“The fast casual restaurant category continues to show growth and momentum in all sections of the country, and we see tremendous opportunities for new concepts that can differentiate [themselves] from the competition,” said Keith Barnett in a statement. “Hurricane Grill & Wings taps into consumer’s expanded need for a high-quality, fast and relatively low cost meal that they can enjoy with business associates, family members and friends. The concept’s emphasis on creating a relaxed and fun environment, indicative of the environment found while on vacation at the beach, has proven to be a successful draw at its current locations.”
Taubman Picks Sachse Construction for City Creek Center Project in Salt Lake City
Taubman Co. hired Sachse Construction to handle tenant coordination activities and landlord construction at City Creek Center, a $1.5 billion mixed-use development in Salt Lake City, Utah. When completed, the project will feature more than 650,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, an 11-kitchen food court, 1.4 million square feet of office space, 542 residential units, a renovated 510-room Marriott Hotel, 5,000 below-grade parking spaces and a grocery store. Sachse will handle all aspects of the retail construction process. The mall is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012.
CBL Starts Construction on Phase II of The Forum at Grandview
CBL & Associates Properties Inc. started construction on phase II of The Forum at Grandview, a community center in Madison, Miss. Phase II of the project will contain 83,000 square feet of space. ULTA, Petco, Homegoods and an unidentified national arts and crafts retailer will anchor the property. CBL plans to open phase II in the summer of 2012.
The Forum at Grandview is a joint venture project between CBL and The Mattiace Co. CBL is handling development and leasing.
Hobby Lobby to Open Store at Kohl’s Plaza in Pennsylvania
Hobby Lobby signed a lease with Keystone Property Associates LLC for a 52,450-square-foot store at Kohl’s Plaza in Dickson City, Pa. Hobby Lobby plans to open at the location in February 2012. Randy Hope and Mark Gerlach, of Metro Commercial, represented the tenant in the lease. The landlord represented itself.
Big Lots, hhgregg Sign Leases at Centro Properties
hhgregg signed a lease with Centro Properties Group US for a 28,351-square-foot store at Heritage Square in Naperville, Ill. Andrew Robbins and Alvin Rodenbostel, of Arcore Real Estate Group, represented hhgregg in the transaction. Brad Ratajczak served as an in-house representative for Centro.
Big Lots signed three leases totaling 92,006 square feet at Centro properties, including a 30,000-square-foot store at Arapahoe Crossing in Aurora, Colo., a 28,000-square-foot store at Lagniappe Village in New Iberia, La. and a 34,006-square-foot store at Panama City Square in Panama City, Fla.
AMC Dine-In Theatre Signs Lease at Villa Marina in Marina del Rey
AMC Entertainment Inc. signed a lease with property manager Jones Lang LaSalle for a 34,318-square-foot AMC Dine-In Theatre at Villa Marina Marketplace in Marina del Rey, Calif. AMC plans to open the venue, which will combine restaurant cuisine and cocktails with a movie theater experience, in late spring 2012. The lease is part of a $25 million redevelopment and repositioning of Villa Marina Marketplace. The redevelopment is scheduled to begin this fall.
New Retailers to Open at The Falls in Miami
Simon Property Group signed leases with multiple new retailers at The Falls in Miami, Fla. Love Culture, Love Sac, Corner Bakery Café and Red Robin all plan to open stores at the center starting in fall of 2011.
Simon will also make aesthetic enhancements to the property, including a new color palette and new soft seating areas.
West Elm Expands in Los Angeles
West Elm signed a 15-year lease with Brand Art LLC for a 10,909-square-foot store at the corner of Beverly Boulevard and King Road in Los Angeles. The lease is valued at $6.5 million. The retailer plans to open its new location in late 2011.
David Ickovics and David Aschkenasy, of Commercial Asset Group, represented the landlord in the transaction. Epsteen & Associates represented the tenant. Brand Art LLC also retained CAG to provide property management services for the single-tenant building.
Uniqlo Builds Up New York City Presence
Uniqlo signed a lease for a 2,000-square-foot store at 1142 Third Ave. in New York City. The lease is part of an expansion that includes four state-of-the-art pop-up Uniqlo brand shops and two new flagship Manhattan locations for the retailer at 666 Fifth Ave. and at Herald Square. Lansco Corp. represented the tenant in the transaction. Faith Hope Consolo and Joseph A. Aquino, of Prudential Douglas Elliman, represented the landlord.
illi Commercial to Handle Leasing for California Retail Center
Watt Industries appointed illi Commercial Real Estate as the leasing agent for a shopping center on Sepulveda Blvd. and Western Ave. in Torrance, Calif. Todd Nathanson, Danny Miller and Mark Chase will handle this assignment on behalf of illi Commercial.
Other Notable News
Duane Reade signed a 15-year renewal lease with 873 Broadway LLC for a 10,000-square-foot store at 873 Broadway in New York City. Marty Meyer, vice chairman with Colliers International, represented the landlord in the transaction. Steve Baker and Jeff Winick, of Winick Realty, represented the tenant. The renewal lease will take effect in October.
Summit Design + Build LLC completed the renovation of a former MB Financial bank property on 1612 W. Division Street in Chicago into The Bedford bar. The project involved the gutting and renovation of an 8,400-square-foot basement and 900-square-foot vault area.
Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services promoted Philip A. Saglimbeni to vice president of investments. Saglimbeni has been with the firm since December 2006, most recently serving as associate vice president of investments. Marcus & Millichap also promoted Jeffrey J. Taughinbaugh to vice president of investments. Taughinbaugh previously served as senior associate.
SRS Real Estate Partners hired Scott Ellsworth as senior associate in its Phoenix, Ariz. office. Ellsworth has seven years of experience in tenant and landlord representation. Prior to joining SRS, he worked for NAI Horizon.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty LLC (CBCSRD) hired Kyle Vreeland as realtor and sales associate. In his new position, he will be responsible for building analysis, space planning and development feasibility. Vreeland specializes in retail properties. Prior to joining CBCSRD, he served as principal with Smithland Development and Chiefland Properties.