Chuckles Comedy House Coming to Oakwood Center in Gretna, Louisiana
Marks third national location for new entertainment concept.
Stirling Properties announced that Chuckles Comedy House is coming to Oakwood Center (formerly Oakwood Mall) in Gretna, Louisiana, a part of the New Orleans metropolitan area. This marks the third national location for the new-to-market entertainment concept.
Chuckles Comedy House will occupy 9,855 square feet of retail space located at 197 Westbank Expressway, adjacent to New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. The company is currently finalizing construction plans and is expected to open in the fall of 2020. Chuckles Comedy House features regional and national comedians, as well as a full bar and pub-style fare. Comedians like Paul Mooney, DL Hughley, Monique, Eddie Griffin, Chris Tucker, Bruce Bruce, and more have graced its stage. Chuckles Comedy House currently operates two additional locations in Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi.
“Chuckles Comedy House was created to fill a void in the entertainment industry. At Chuckles, we know comedy, we know excitement, we know a good time,” said Darvis Harvey, COO of Chuckles Comedy House, New Orleans. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring our exclusive concept to the Gretna community and surrounding New Orleans area, and give the people something we all love, laughter—all year round!”
“We are excited to be able to open our third Chuckles Comedy House in Gretna, and to establish a potential flagship location for our brand here in the greater New Orleans area,” said Michael Ware, Sr., CEO & Founder of Chuckles Comedy House. “We have always had a deep, personal love for the New Orleans region—visiting many times over the years—and we look forward to finally being a part of this vibrant, fun-loving community.”
Stirling Properties’ Senior Advisor Joe Gardner, CCIM represented Chuckles Comedy House in securing the lease and serves as the company’s tenant representative broker. Joe Brown, with Brookfield Properties, represented the property owner in the transaction.
“Stirling Properties is excited to welcome Chuckles Comedy House—the first of its kind in our area—to Oakwood Center and the Gretna community. Today’s consumers want entertainment and unique experiences, and we are confident this innovative concept will be a welcomed and successful addition to the greater New Orleans region, and will greatly complement the surrounding retail and restaurant establishments,” said Gardner.
Oakwood Center is a 907,145-square-foot shopping center located at the foot of the Crescent City Connection, which links the West Bank to downtown New Orleans and the historic French Quarter. The center offers a dynamic shopping experience, with a retail lineup including department stores such as Dillard’s and JCPenney alongside ALDO, Bath & Body Works, H&M, ULTA BEAUTY and more than 80 other retail and restaurant options, as well as a 380-seat foot court and children’s soft play area.
Stirling Properties Brokers Sale of 38,443-SF Former Bassett Home Furnishings Building in Gulfport, MS
Stirling Properties recently brokered the sale of the 38,443-square-foot former Bassett Home Furnishings building located on 1526 E. Pass Road in Gulfport, Mississippi. The retail/warehouse building sits on 3.3 acres of land adjacent to the new Rouses Market.
The buyer was Lagniappe Construction, a national senior living construction company, who plans to utilize the facility for its home office staff, training, and regional material logistics.
Bassett Home Furnishings closed this location in June of 2019 after 15 years in business, and the building was placed on the market for sale.
Melissa Warren, CCIM, Senior Advisor with Stirling Properties, represented the seller on the sale of the property. Stephanie Schmitt, with Century 21, worked with the buyer.
Why is it important to have Buyer/Tenant Representation?
Your business is growing, and you need more space. Maybe you’re planning to expand into a new market. Perhaps you’re an investor looking to build your portfolio. Regardless of the scenario, if you’re considering buying or leasing commercial real estate, you will be faced with the same challenges: Finding the right location, negotiating a fair deal, and creating opportunity for future growth.
A listing or landlord broker has a fiduciary duty to their client (landlord/seller). Their job is filling available space as quickly and as profitably as possible. Due to that relationship, the buyer/tenant may not be fairly represented without their own broker, someone whose focus is on getting them the best deal and the best property for their needs. This three-part series will explain why it is in the best interest of a buyer/tenant to hire a broker to represent them in a transaction.
The best part is that the buyer/tenant can get fair representation with little to no cost!
Part 1: Buyer/Tenant Representation Broker
Real estate is a complicated business with many industry-specific terms, legal details and marketing intricacies, making it difficult for someone not actively involved with it to know where to begin. Hiring a tenant representation broker will give you the best opportunity to find the perfect space with fair lease terms.
1. The Call
You call the number on the “For Lease or Sale” sign, but you never get a callback. Landlords and sellers are busy people and often hire a listing broker. Both are more accustomed to working with other brokers.
Hiring a buyer/tenant rep can help solve this problem in two ways:
- A buyer/tenant rep has the backing and reputation of the brokerage firm they work for, which gives them more authority when making calls.
- The buyer/tenant rep likely has a professional relationship with the listing broker.
2. Not all properties are listed in one place
Looking through listings online can be difficult if the information is outdated or incomplete. A tenant rep has numerous resources to solve these issues and find the best option for you.
Commercial real estate brokers have access to the most accurate listing databases for the market. With the professional relationship tenant reps have with other brokers, it allows them to easily get updated information on available properties. Tenant reps also know of opportunities that are not yet on the market but will be available soon.
3. Finding the ideal space or investment
It is imperative to assess your needs when beginning the selection process. Buyer/tenant reps will ask you the necessary questions to analyze and determine your exact needs. Tenant reps can provide valuable insight into what your space requirements are and what amenities would benefit your business the most.
Questions to consider for tenants:
- Is your company growing? What is your projected growth?
- How does your office utilize space? Private offices, open floor plan, collaborative space?
A few questions for investors:
- In what product type do you want to invest in?
- Are you looking for a value-add opportunity or a stabilized asset?
- What type of return do you anticipate?
For tenants, deciding where your business should be located is one of the most crucial decisions you will make during the search process. A tenant rep has the experience and market knowledge to help answer questions you may have about different locations and market areas.
A few factors with location needs:
- Can the office be found easily? Is it easily accessible from major thoroughfares?
- What is the commute time for employees?
4. The Negotiation
The landlord or seller can quote you any rate or terms, and you have no way of knowing if that is the market standard beforehand. The buyer/tenant rep adds value to the negotiation process by knowing what economic and non-economic factors are common in the market. They will also walk you through the process and explain various items to you.
5. Should you even lease?
Sometimes leasing space may not be the best option for you. Purchasing a building may pay off in the long run, or coworking space can give you the flexibility of not being in a long-term lease. Depending on the market conditions and your company needs, purchasing real estate can be more cost-effective than leasing it. A tenant rep can help you define your needs and decide if purchasing or leasing is the best option for you.
Often, tenant reps uncover needs that business owners didn’t even realize, helping to ensure that a property is truly a perfect fit for the client.
Most importantly, your focus needs to be on running your business. A tenant representation broker takes the weight of the real estate process off your shoulders. Time is money; hiring a tenant rep broker can help you spend that time focusing on your business.
Look for Part 2: Why Signing a Buyer/Tenant Representation Agreement is Important
For questions about your commercial real estate or brokerage representation, contact Foster Murphy at fmurphy@stirlingprop.com or (225) 329-0282.
New Tenant Announced for Shoppes at University Town Plaza in Pensacola, Florida
Bubba’s 33 to join line-up in new BJ’s Wholesale Club-anchored retail redevelopment.
Stirling Properties and Seritage Growth Properties are pleased to announce that Bubba’s 33, a new-to-market restaurant concept, is coming to the Shoppes at University Town Plaza in Pensacola, Florida. It will join the tenant line-up in the new BJ’s Wholesale Club-anchored retail redevelopment located at 7171 Davis Highway.
Developed by Seritage Growth Properties, the 123,000-square-foot Shoppes at University Town Plaza is positioned at the corner of N. Davis Highway and Creighton Road, previously the site of Sears and Sears Auto.
Bubba’s 33 is a family-oriented sports restaurant and bar by the founder of Texas Roadhouse, featuring stone-baked pizzas, fresh-ground burgers, salads and sandwiches. The restaurant will occupy approximately 7,000 square feet of space on the corner lot of the redevelopment. This marks the first Bubba’s 33 in the Gulf South region. The original Bubba’s 33, which opened in 2013 in Fayetteville, NC, was recognized locally as the Best New Restaurant and Best Sports Restaurant.
Anchor-tenant BJ’s Wholesale Club will occupy roughly 100,000 square feet of retail space. Construction commenced this summer, and the store is expected to open in the first quarter of 2020. The membership warehouse club will feature an extensive selection of fresh foods, a full-service deli and household essentials like paper products, cleaning products, diapers, pet supplies and more. This is the first location for BJ’s Wholesale Club in the Florida Panhandle, and it is expected to bring about 140 jobs to the market.
The Shoppes at University Town Plaza will include 16,200 square feet of additional retail shop space positioned along Davis Highway. Stirling Properties’ commercial advisors Kyle Knight and Darryl Bonner are serving as the project’s listing brokers and are working to fill the remaining space with a great mix of local favorites and new-to-market retailers.
“The Shoppes at University Town Plaza is an exciting new Class A retail project located within a major growth node in Pensacola. We are targeting restaurant users, as well as soft goods and service providers for the residual space that will not only be great additions to the market but strongly complement the successful contiguous retail development,” said Knight. “This project is indicative of Pensacola’s dynamic economic development—from Downtown to the Northwestern areas—and illustrates its potential for sustained growth and evolution.”
Stirling Properties is located at 220 W. Garden St., Suite 802, in Pensacola at the SCI Building. For sales and leasing information, contact Darryl Bonner at 770-335-2828/ dbonner@stirlingprop.com or Kyle Knight at 251-769-8487/ kknight@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Relocates Baton Rouge Office in United Plaza Office Park
New, expanded office footprint will combine two existing Baton Rouge locations.
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the merger and relocation of its Baton Rouge offices to United Plaza II located in United Plaza Office Park at 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 101, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The new, expanded office footprint will combine the company’s two existing Baton Rouge locations into one central office.
The company has moved from its former locations at 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 303, and 6160 Perkins Road, Suite 200, to combined more than 30 employees, commercial brokers, and building management staff under one roof.
Stirling Properties now occupies more than 9,000 square feet of office space on the 1st floor of United Plaza II. The new office space features a collaborative, open floor concept with a mix of both private and shared office suites, as well as upgraded amenities. The company moved into the new office space in late November and will hold its official grand opening celebration on Thursday, December 5th.
Earlier this year, Stirling Properties and Baton Rouge-based SVN | Graham, Langlois & Legendre (SVN | GLL) announced a strategic merger to combine commercial real estate services in the Gulf South region and expand their presence in the burgeoning Greater Baton Rouge market. Joining forces enabled the companies to compete more efficiently and effectively in the local commercial real estate market and significantly increased market share through an expanded portfolio, service offering and team capacity.
“Stirling Properties is committed to the Baton Rouge area and business community, and we are expanding our presence and service offerings in the market and across the entire Gulf South region. Baton Rouge continues to be one of our most important areas for commercial real estate brokerage, management, development and investment sales,” said Marty Mayer, President & CEO with Stirling Properties. “We are combining offices and expanding into a larger space that will enable us to leverage all the resources of Stirling Properties to help our clients achieve their real estate goals.”
United Plaza Office Park is a 75-acre development encompassing twelve buildings that are home to a mix of national, regional and local companies. Stirling Properties owns, manages, and leases United Plaza I, United Plaza II, United Plaza VIII and United Plaza XII, totaling over 500,000 square feet of office space.
For commercial real estate needs and information in the Greater Baton Rouge area, contact Stirling Properties at (225) 926-4481.
Stirling Properties Adds Two Advisors to Commercial Real Estate Team
Rankin Bihm recently joined the Stirling Properties team as an Advisor, working dually from the company’s Lafayette and Lake Charles offices. He is primarily focused on the sales and leasing of retail properties, with representation of both tenants and landlords. His specific geographical expertise is on the Southwest Louisiana market area.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Bihm served as a Multimedia Consultant, where he advised business clients on digital marketing and promotional strategies. He has a strong understanding of market research and analyzing competitor data, which translates to the real estate market, where he helps his clients to effectively locate and market properties. He also has extensive experience in the hospitality and service industry, where he honed superior customer service and relationship-building skills.
Bihm is a graduate of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. He is currently enrolled in the University of Louisiana-Lafayette MBA program.
Rankin is a volunteer with St. Joseph Parish Vacation Bible School and Keep Lafayette Clean. He is an avid reader and enjoys listening to podcasts—and all things sports.
Blaise Brown also joins the Stirling Properties’ commercial real estate team as an Advisor, working from the company’s New Orleans office. With a geographic focus on New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish, he specializes in the sales and leasing of retail and industrial properties and raw land.
Brown is a member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR), the Commercial Investment Division of NOMAR (CID), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and Retail Brokers Network (RBN).
Born and raised in NOLA, Blaise is a graduate of St. Augustine High School and currently resides in New Orleans East. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Justice and Peace Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he played football and was named the Team Captain his Senior year.
While in Washington, Blaise served as a Sursum Corda educational tutor, helping to implicate new techniques of reading for children in the poverty-stricken neighborhoods. He helped to create opportunities and practices of learning between tutors and tutees while acting as a mediator between Georgetown students and Sursum Corda children.
