The Publix of Northridge retail center has sold for $11.6 million in Sarasota, according to HFF, which marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a joint venture led by Kimco Realty Corporation. The buyer was Phillips Edison-ARC Shopping Center, a real estate investment trust. The 65,320-square-foot property is anchored by a Publix, which occupies 44,840 square feet. It is currently 84 percent occupied by seven tenants. HFF’s team was led by senior managing directors Danny Finkle and Brad Peterson, director Luis Castillo and analyst Kim Flores. – Alexander Britell

The opening of a renovated Publix supermarket is the first step in a plan to revitalize Pompano Beach, the Sun Sentinel reported. “This new Publix is the first step we’re taking to attract new business to the area,” said Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher. “We’re tired of losing business to our neighbors, Boca Raton and Lauderdale.” [more]

Part of a number of Publix locations that are being overhauled, the remade Boynton Beach Publix at 2511 East Atlantic Boulevard is set to reopen at the end of the month. The project, which was first envisioned in 2007, involved a demolition of the original store. It was replaced by a 54,000-square-foot market. Another high-profile Publix renovation, of the Palm Beach store, was completed last year. [Sun Sentinel]

Parkland Commons

The Publix-anchored Parkland Commons shopping center has been sold, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s Southeast Capital Markets Group, which represented seller Quality Properties Asset Management, a Bank of America affiliate, in the deal. The 89,469-square-foot center, which was built in 2008, was 57 percent leased at the time of sale. The deal also included an undeveloped 3.4-acre parcel located nearby. “We received strong bidding for Parkland Commons given the presence of Publix, Parkland’s excellent demographics and the significant upside that can be realized over time through the leasing of the vacant shop space and development of the parcel,” said Mark Gilbert, executive vice president at Cushman & Wakefield. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. — Alexander Britell

The 275,000-square-foot Delray Marketplace is set to break ground, with a scheduled opening in November 2012. The project, which is the brainchild of developer Kite Realty Group, is 66 percent leased, with anchor tenants including Publix and Frank Theatres. “Because of where we are located, there is such a dearth of good-quality retail and restaurants and entertainment options, [and] things have been going pretty well,” said Jason Samreny, vice president of leasing for Kite. [SFBJ] [more]

The arrival of grocery store Aldi in Palm Beach County today will be a relief for other business owners stuck for months in a shopping center with no anchor, the Palm Beach Post reported, and it’s not the only chain store finding itself in that situation. One owner moved his computer store into Boynton Lakes Plaza last fall to be closer to a new Publix. A thriving plaza with a grocery anchor can bring him 10 to 25 new customers a month, he said. “Whereas in an empty plaza, you get almost none,” he said. Retailers are starting to expand again, though the pace is “measured,” said Jesse Tron, a spokesperson for the International Council of Shopping Centers. “Having an anchor store – and a grocery is a typical anchor – greatly affects the financial health of the plaza and its other tenants,” he said. [Palm Beach Post]

The construction of the Palm Beach Publix is on track, seven months after work began on the 45,000-square-foot project. Contractors Moss & Associates are reportedly still aiming for completion by Dec. 19, according to Kim Jaeger, media and community relations manager at Publix. “I have been impressed with the rapid and efficient way that the store is going up,” said Brandon Leon, who owns a barber shop nearby. “We can hardly wait for it to open, as I think business might get a boost from the new Publix.” [Palm Beach Daily News]
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Publix supermarket will move from the Meadow Square shopping center at 4753 North Congress Avenue into Regency Centers’ Boynton Lakes Plaza in Boynton Beach next summer, the Sun Sentinel reported, upping its space from 39,000 square feet to 45,600 square feet.

The Boynton Lakes Plaza will undergo exterior architectural improvements in order to facilitate the store, the Sentinel said.
“The addition of a market-leading grocer and redevelopment of Boynton Lakes Plaza illustrates Regency’s commitment to expand and improve its South Florida presence,” said Josh Spooner, Regency Centers’ vice president of investments. [Sun Sentinel]

The new Publix at 2501 East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale opened this morning. The 30,907-square-foot Publix at Galleria cost $5 million and was constructed by Sikon Construction, which is based in Deerfield Beach. The company is also building a new, $7 million Publix in Riviea Beach. Publix is working on a number of new stores in South Florida, including a large-scale renovation in Palm Beach. [Sun Sentinel]
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Winn Dixie-anchored Miramar Parkway Plaza, a 155,336-square-foot shopping center in Miramar, is now in a foreclosure action brought by FirstBank Puerto Rico. The center, which was built-in 1973, is located at 3301, 3190, 3306 and 3353 South University Drive, at the corner of University Drive and Miramar Parkway. Other tenants include McDonald’s, Family Dollar, Foot Locker and AutoZone. [SFBJ]
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