REAL ESTATE

One Hundred Oaks now under JLL management
Nashville, Tenn. -- JLL announced the firm has been retained to manage One Hundred Oaks located in Nashville, Tennessee, on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management. The nearly 1 million-sq.-ft. medical mixed-use property sits on 54 acres, half of which houses the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The property’s retail tenant mix includes national, regional and local retailers, and is anchored by Regal Theatres, Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, TJ Maxx, Petsmart and Michaels.
JLL expands Gulf Coast platform with retail and office expertise
Mobile, Ala. -- JLL announced the expansion of its platform in Alabama with the addition of Shannon Tyndall and Allen Garstecki. Tyndall and Garstecki join JLL as VPs, and bring more than 20 years of combined experience to the firm. They will be based in the firm’s Mobile office, bolstering the existing practice that JLL built last year when it added Gulf Coast Retail Brokerage lead Josh Burmeister and VP Buff Teague.

The team provides retail and office expertise throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle.

Risk-Averse Strip Mall Landlords Seek 'Internet-Proof' Renters in Smaller Spaces

By Neil Axler

“You can’t get your nails done online, you can’t get dry cleaning done online and you can’t eat the Internet.” These are the dominant themes from retail clients (property owners) over the last few years. Today’s shopping center acquirers are looking for “necessity centers” with a stable rent roll. These centers consist of restaurants, nail salons and other destination retail that is not competing with e-commerce.
Thor Equities acquires property on Avenue Des Champs-Elysees

New York -- Thor Equities has signed a contract to acquire a prime retail and office property at 102 Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris. “102 Avenue des Champs-Elysees is at the center of one of the most desirable locations in the world, just blocks from the Arc de Triomphe and Place Charles de Gaulle,” said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities. “We continue to believe strongly in the Paris retail market, in particular prime shopping and tourist destinations such as the Champs-Elysees and Boulevard Haussmann.”
Ikea to open its largest U.S. store, in Burbank, California

New York -- Ikea will open its largest U.S. store on a 22-acre site in Burbank, California. As the first step in the construction process, the retailer must demolish 19 existing structures on the site. The new 456,000-sq.-ft. store is slated to open in spring 2017.

Reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability, Ikea plans to recycle, repurpose or salvage as much of the existing buildings’ equipment, materials, and parts as possible.
Retail Rap: Shacking Up

The end of a retail icon is always big news in commercial real estate, and it’s particularly relevant when the brand in question is closing more than 4,000 stores around the country.
Exclusive: A look at Quay Valley

By Roy Higgs
The Melting Pot goes global with Indonesia location

Tampa, Fla. – The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. has opened its first restaurant outside of North America in Jakarta, Indonesia. The latest opening comes on the heels of the company announcing its plans for continued international expansion.

The Melting Pot is on track to open its first restaurants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later in 2015, as well as its fourth location in Mexico City, Mexico.
McAlister’s Deli sees rising Phoenix franchise opportunity

Alpharetta, Ga. - McAlister's Deli is targeting Phoenix for franchise growth. The fast-casual dining chain is seeking experienced multi-unit restaurant operators to help expand McAlister's presence in the market through multi-unit development agreements in areas such as Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Goodyear.
Pirch enters the Northeast, opens 20,000-sq.-ft. store at Garden State Plaza

New York -- High-end home appliances and outfitting retailer Pirch will open its first store in the Northeast, at Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, on March 28.

The 20,000-sq.-ft. store, the company’s eighth to date, allows shoppers to "test-drive" a carefully-curated collection of premier kitchen, bath, laundry, and outdoor living brands in a highly interactive and sensory environment.