Massey Knakal Realty Services, a New York City-based investment sales brokerage firm, formed Massey Knakal Retail Leasing Services (MKRLS). The new division will specialize in retail leasing with a focus on landlord representation. Benjamin Fox, a veteran New York City retail broker and formerly president of Winick Realty Group, will become partner of the division. He will work closely with Ken Krasnow, managing director.
“I am thrilled to become a member of such a terrific, well oiled organization,” said Benjamin Fox, in a statement. “From a strategic perspective, investment sale brokerage and retail store leasing go hand in hand. We are both pounding the pavement day in and day out looking for opportunities. Combining the two disciplines into one seamless specialty allows us to present property owners with a broader understanding of the present and future potential of their assets.”
Graham Downes Architecture and Architectural Concepts Inc. Unite Forces
Graham Downes Architecture Inc. and Architectural Concepts Inc. (ACI) integrated their resources under the Graham Downes Architecture brand. Graham Downes Architecture has amassed a portfolio of progressive and contemporary projects. ACI specializes in luxury lifestyle resort projects, vacation ownership, spas, multifamily and senior housing properties.
Cincinnati Brokers Launch New Firm
Four retail brokerage professionals in the greater Cincinnati area launched OnSite Retail Group, a new retail brokerage. Eric Abroms, Kristine Davidson, Andrew Feinblatt and Scott Saddlemire all previously held senior positions with Brandt Retail Group. OnSite Retail already has almost 50 clients in its portfolio, including Dollar Tree, Aldi, T.J. Maxx and L.A. Fitness, among others.
Strategic Retail Advisors to Manage Dollar Tree Expansion in Southern California
Dollar Tree Inc. appointed Strategic Retail Advisors (SRA), a member of X Team International, as its exclusive leasing agent in Orange County and San Gabriel Valley, Calif. The retailer is currently looking to open new locations ranging from 8,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet in Southern California. Blaine Bush and Wally Limburg, of SRA, will represent Dollar Tree in Orange County. Jeff Reenders will represent the retailer in San Gabriel Valley.
Dollar Tree also signed an expansion and relocation agreement at Temple Terrace Shoppes in Tampa, Fla. The retailer, which previously occupied 7,992 square feet of space at the center, will move into a 14,425-square-foot vacant Save-A-Lot unit. The space will serve as home to Dollar Tree’s Deal$ concept. The store is scheduled to open in April 2011.
RMC Property Group manages the center.
Meltzer/Mandl Architects Completes Designs for New Brunswick Gateway Transit Village
Meltzer/Mandl Architects completed the designs for New Brunswick Gateway Transit Village, a $150 million, 632,000-square-foot mixed-use property in New Brunswick, N.J. When completed, New Brunswich Gateway Transit Village will feature more than 120,000 square feet of commercial space, 192 residences, 58,000 square feet of destination retail and a 657-car parking garage.
New Brunswick Development Corp. and Pennrose Properties broke ground on the project in January 2010. Completion is scheduled for June 2012.
JGSC to Recruit Retailers and Restaurants for New Rochelle BID
New Rochelle Downtown BID appointed JGSC to recruit new stores and restaurants to the area. JGSC’s responsibilities will include identifying appropriate retail prospects, developing marketing materials and working with developers to facilitate recruitment efforts.
The town of New Rochelle is located in Westchester County, N.Y.
Levin’s REO Group to Manage Livingston Town Center
Levin Management Corp.’s REO practice has been appointed as the exclusive leasing and managing agent for the retail component of Livingston Town Center in Livingston, N.J. The center contains 65,000 square feet of retail space. Bob Carson, head of Levin’s REO practice, will be in charge of the assignment.
Watt Completes $74.3M in New Leases and Renewals in 2010
Watt Commercial Properties signed 26 new leases and renewed 36 existing leases throughout its Southern California properties in the second half of 2010. The deals total 235,000 square feet of space. For the whole of 2010, Watt Commercial signed 53 new lease deals with an aggregate rent of $50.7 million and 124 lease renewals for an aggregate rent of $23.6 million. Tenants included Ross Dress for Less and L.A. Fitness, among others.
TJX HomeGoods Signs Chicago Lease
TJX’s HomeGoods signed a lease for a 25,503-square-foot store at 600 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Richard Spinell, Stan Nitzberg, Marget Graham and Luke Molloy, of Mid-America Real Estate Group, represented the landlord in the transaction. Steve Baer and Gary Greenfield, of Metro Commercial, represented the tenant.
Guitar Center to Open First Store with Rehearsal Studio in Kentucky
Guitar Center signed a deal for a 17,500-square-foot store at 4600 Shelbyville Road in Louisville, Ky. The store will feature GC Studio’s the retailer’s first embedded lesson and rehearsal facility.
Other Notable News
CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. appointed Tony Long as global leader of the company’s asset services business line. In addition to the new appointment, Long will continue to serve as president of asset services in the Americas. He has been with CBRE for 25 years and has overseen the growth of the company’s asset services business in the Americas.
Winick Realty Group LLC appointed Steve E. Baker as president. Baker, who is a partner in the firm, previously served as co-president.
Cassidy Turley hired Noble Carpenter and Bart Steinfeld to lead its capital markets expansion in key markets across the country. They will work closely together with Cassidy Turley’s existing capital markets team to develop a fully integrated national capital markets platform. Prior to joining Cassidy Turley, Carpenter and Steinfeld worked for Jones Lang LaSalle. They both have approximately 25 years of experience in the capital markets.
Retail Design Institute’s California/Southwest chapter appointed Greg Lyon president. During his two-year term, Lyon will work with a board of directors located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah on bringing attention to retail development and brokerage. Lyon serves as design principal with Nadel Architects’ retail division.
National Realty & Development Corp. signed leases with three new tenants at the renovated CooperTowne Center in Somerdale, N.J. GameStop, Great Clips and Go Wireless opened their doors in the last two months of 2010. CooperTowne Center contains 385,000 square feet of space and is anchored by Walmart Supercenter, a 16-screen Cinemark theatre and LA Fitness.
Centro Properties Group signed leases totaling 13,894 square feet at centers throughout its U.S. portfolio. Tenants included Divine Crown Academy of Cosmetology, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Partners Sales and The Spot for Fits & Kicks.
Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services promoted David E. Thurston to associate vice president of investments. Previously, Thurston served as senior associate in the company’s New Jersey office. He has been with Marcus & Millichap since 1999.
Savills LLC hired Nataly D. Warman as vice president. Prior to joining Savills, Warman ran her own company, NW Real Estate Consulting, in Hamburg and Berlin. She provided real estate advice and asset management services to domestic and international clients.
Colliers International hired A. Dwight Hotchkiss as executive managing director of client services. In his new position, Hotchkiss will be responsible for expanding existing specialty areas and practice groups, as well as launching new service lines. Hotchkiss has 20 years of experience in real estate. Prior to joining Colliers International, he worked for Cushman & Wakefield.
Edens & Avant promoted Brian Maloney to director of leasing for Florida. In his new position, Maloney will be responsible for approximately 26 retail properties. Maloney has been with Edens & Avant since 2007. Prior to that, he served as a development and leasing associate and in-house counsel with Nemchik Development. Edens & Avant also promoted Jami Passer to managing director. Passer has been with the firm since 2006.
Voit Real Estate Services hired Gene Fuller as director of asset and property management. In his new position, Fuller will oversee Voit’s asset and property management portfolio. Prior to joining Voit, Fuller worked for GE Commercial Finance.
Metro Commercial Real Estate Inc. hired Roy Perez-Daple. In his new position, Perez-Daple will be responsible for expanding the firm’s retailer advisory services and pursuing strategic landlord opportunities. Prior to joining Metro Commercial, Perez-Daple served as real estate director with Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores.