Stirling Assists Birmingham Water Works in Acquiring New Industrial Life Science Facility
Stirling Advisors Juhmad M. Hollis and Melissa Warren, CCIM represented Birmingham Water Works (BWWB) in their search to acquire a new building for the development of their new EnviroLab facility. The acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the BWWB’s relentless pursuit of advancing water quality standards in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Through their collaborative efforts, BWWB acquired the class A R&D facility in Oxmoor South Industrial Park, located at 100 Lucerne Lane, Birmingham, AL. The newly acquired building measures 30,000 SF of office, wet lab, and warehouse space and is situated on 5.7 acres. Upgrades are planned for the facility to incorporate state-of-the-art technology for water-testing laboratory services. The life-sciences facility will serve as a cornerstone in the Birmingham Water Works’ unwavering commitment to ensuring the utmost in water quality for the communities it serves.
Juhmad M. Hollis and Melissa Warren, Advisors with Stirling, guided Birmingham Water Works through the intricate process of acquiring the building. Their profound knowledge of the Birmingham real estate landscape, combined with their skills in life science and industrial transactions, contributed significantly to the successful realization of this venture.
“We are excited to have assisted the Birmingham Water Works in acquiring their new EnviroLab facility,” stated Melissa Warren, Senior Advisor at Stirling. “This accomplishment not only exemplifies our commitment to delivering exceptional real estate solutions but also highlights our collaborative efforts with the Birmingham Water Works’ executive team and engineers.”
“As a commercial real estate advisor, it was an honor to work with Birmingham Water Works to assist them in achieving their goals. Having been born and raised in the City of Birmingham, this was a particularly important project because it impacts my family and the people in my community,” said Juhmad M. Hollis, Advisor, Associate Broker at Stirling. “Stirling has allowed me to not only utilize my Alabama real estate license but also engage in meaningful endeavors that resonate deeply with my roots and empowers me to seamlessly integrate my expertise, making a tangible and positive impact on the city that raised me.”
Dick’s Last Resort and Cats Meow Coming to The Wharf Orange Beach, Alabama
Stirling Properties announces Dick’s Last Resort and Cats Meow are joining the tenant lineup at The Wharf Orange Beach, Alabama.
Dick’s Last Resort, a restaurant and bar chain known for its rowdy roadhouse atmosphere and intentionally obnoxious staff, and New Orleans-based Cats Meow world-famous karaoke bar will together occupy 16,000 square feet of retail space in Suite M101 on Main Street. They are expected to open by Memorial Day.
Jeff Barnes, CCIM and Steadman Bethea, commercial advisors with Stirling Properties, serve as the commercial leasing agents for The Wharf Orange Beach and represented the landlord in the leasing transaction. John Aiello and Aaron Petree of Strategic Retail Advisors represented the tenant.
For the latest news and updates on what’s to come at The Wharf, visit alwharf.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @TheWharfOBA. For information about available real estate at The Wharf, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM at (251) 375-2496 or via email at jbarnes@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to Its Commercial Brokerage Team in Mobile, AL
Stirling Properties welcomes Chip Brown and Jay O’Brien to its Commercial Brokerage Team. Brown and O’Brien will work out of the company’s Mobile, Alabama, office located at 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100.
Chip Brown joins the team as a commercial real estate advisor. He is a REALTOR® and entrepreneur and the former president of his family-owned commercial real estate company, E.H. Brown and Associates, located in Mobile.
Brown is a veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard and a former Advisor in Afghanistan for NATO and US Forces Afghanistan. A lifelong resident of South Alabama, he serves as a State Representative for South Mobile County and sits on the Urban & Rural Development Committee, Economic Development & Tourism Committee, Insurance Committee, House Rules Committee and Mobile County Legislation Committee.
He is a former Chairman of the board for the Make A Wish Foundation of Alabama and for several years has volunteered his time serving as a youth baseball, football, soccer and basketball coach. Brown is a graduate of Troy State University, The Defense Department Information School and has a master’s degree from National University.
Jay O’Brien, CCIM, serves as a senior advisor, specializing in land brokerage, site selection, tenant representation and property management. With more than 23 years of experience, he has been involved in the development, acquisition and disposition of over 10,000,000 square feet of retail, multifamily and industrial properties throughout Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. He holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, commercial real estate’s global standard for professional achievement.
A lifelong resident of Mobile, O’Brien is an entrepreneur, local business owner and the president of his family-owned real estate company, J. L. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., in Mobile. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, State Board of Realtors and the Mobile Board of Realtors. He is also a former State Board Member and Officer with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Alabama. O’Brien graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Building Science.
Chip Brown can be reached at cbrown@stirlingprop.com / (251) 581-5173. Jay O’Brien, CCIM, can be reached at jobrien@stirlingprop.com / (251) 379-1420.
The Wharf Reaches Record-Breaking Occupancy on Alabama Gulf Coast
The Wharf at Orange Beach, a popular shopping, dining and entertainment venue on the Alabama Gulf Coast, has reached a record-breaking total occupancy of 98% in 2021 — up from 93% in May 2020.
On the cusp of a completely full venue with only four unoccupied spaces remaining on The Wharf property, the growth has gained much interest from businesses in a range of sectors including restaurants, real estate, entertainment and retail. New tenants that have recently joined The Wharf family include Local Life OBA, Cool Shots Selfie Museum, HUK Performance Fishing Apparel, Southern Athletica, Poppy’s Boutique, Maho Shades, MA Beauty Lounge, Gulf Coast Athletics, Compass Media, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and The Wharf Welcome Center, The Spice & Tea Exchange, Murder Point Oysters, The Coastal Leaders Property Group, Coco LOUIE, Joanna A Boutique, Claremont Property Co., Wise Living Real Estate and more on the way that have yet to open. Nearly all are owned by area residents, making The Wharf one of the highest concentrations on the Gulf Coast of locally-owned businesses.
“As The Wharf enters its 15th year, we’re excited to welcome new establishments that will contribute to our continued success,” said Kristen Hammack, management team leader at The Wharf. “We are always looking for ways to better serve and meet the needs of both visitors and locals, and each of these new businesses brings something unique to our offerings. We pride ourselves in being a safe, family friendly venue where you can experience everything from getting married and purchasing a home to renown fishing tournaments, creative culinary options, unique shopping, energetic concerts and more — a place where ‘life’ happens.”
Tom Thumb also recently acquired and broke ground on 3.94 acres of land located at the intersection of Canal Road and Wharf Parkway East for the development of a convenience store and gas pumps. And just behind it, a 127,000 sq. ft. storage facility is currently under construction. The Wharf partnered with Jeff Barnes, broker with Stirling Properties, who is serving as the commercial leasing agent for the property and responsible for securing each of these new tenants.
“We are thrilled to work with The Wharf and welcome new businesses to Orange Beach. Despite the numerous struggles over the last year, the significance of this record-breaking occupancy for The Wharf truly demonstrates the resiliency of the community and the tenacity of locally-owned businesses, as well as the tremendous efforts of the entire team at The Wharf,” said Jeff Barnes, CCIM, senior investment advisor for Stirling Properties.
“The positive momentum is fostering new opportunities for the undeveloped parcels of The Wharf, like the new Tom Thumb and fast-serve establishments and self-storage facility. Our market dynamics and growth are very encouraging, and we are poised for continued success. We look forward to welcoming even more great tenants to The Wharf soon.”
Just last month, Shades Sunglasses and Casual Apparel, with 10 locations in four states across the Southeast, confirmed their highest-ever, single-day record in sales across all stores at its Wharf location. Shades owners, Joe and Mary Jernigan, have also recently opened HUK Performance Fishing Apparel and Coco LOUIE at The Wharf.
“Our sales during the car show a few weekends ago were higher than any Black Friday, Christmas, Memorial Day or other major-shopping holiday that we have seen,” said Joe Jernigan. “Because of the expected growth at The Wharf, we decided to open up two additional stores this year, and both businesses have already exceeded projected business model expectations. Shades at The Wharf has surpassed all other locations in sales and is on track for its best year ever since its inception in 2004 — up 30% from 2019.”
With this growth, The Wharf has made various infrastructure and general property updates along with a substantial upgrade to the nightly light show that now features state-of-the-art lasers named the SPECTRA Laser Light Experience. The spectacle is viewed by more than 115,000 visitors each year.
The Wharf Amphitheater, which was nominated for the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards Outdoor Venue of the Year, has also received recent upgrades and will be welcoming back the C Spire Summer Concert Series this year with its first socially distant event kicking off on April 25 featuring NEEDTOBREATHE. Other top-charting industry artists are slated to perform in 2021 including the popular Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Brantley Gilbert, Brooks & Dunn and more.
Along with concerts, The Wharf is excited to safely welcome back annual events such as car shows, festivals, food events and holiday celebrations with more than 50 events slated for the remainder of 2021.
For the latest news and updates on what’s to come at The Wharf, visit alwharf.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @thewharfoba. For commercial real estate information pertaining to The Wharf including executive office suites, traditional office suites, retail space and commercial sites for development, contact Jeff at 251-975-8222 or via email at jbarnes@stirlingprop.com.
About The Wharf
Located in beautiful Orange Beach, Ala., The Wharf is an official entertainment district with hundreds of family friendly events throughout the year. Enjoy shopping, drinks and dining at our 60+ unique stores, bars and restaurants. Stay onsite at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel or Levin’s Bend Condominium, catch a movie at the 15-screen AMC Theatre, experience a trip around one of the Southeast’s largest Ferris wheels, take a train ride down Main Street, grab a game of mini golf, explore all that nature has to offer on a boating excursion or catch a nightly SPECTRA Laser Light Experience show — the options are endless. The 10,000-seat Wharf Amphitheater hosts a variety of well-known entertainers, and The Wharf Marina is home to some of the largest in-water boat shows and saltwater fishing tournaments on the Gulf. For more information or to book a reservation, visit alwharf.com.
Mandina’s Restaurant Coming to Spanish Fort Town Center
Stirling Properties, in partnership with Cypress Equities, announces New-Orleans-based Mandina’s Restaurant will be joining the tenant lineup at Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development in South Alabama.
Mandina’s Restaurant has been a New Orleans institution since 1932, serving Italian and Cajun-Creole seafood, steaks and pasta. This marks the third location for Mandina’s Restaurant and the first outside of Louisiana. The original restaurant is located on Canal Street in New Orleans. A local franchisee opened the second Mandina’s on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, Louisiana, and is now venturing into Alabama. The newest Spanish Fort location will occupy 3,997 square feet of space located on Bass Pro Drive across from “The Fort” Container Park. Menu items and operation will closely resemble that of the Mandeville restaurant.
Angie McArthur, Broker Associate, and Jeff Barnes, Senior Investment Advisor/Broker Associate with Stirling Properties, serve as the leasing team for the property owners, Dallas-based Cypress Equities, and helped to secure the new restaurant for the center. The duo has worked with the overall Spanish Fort Town Center project since 2015.
“Stirling Properties is thrilled to welcome Mandina’s Restaurant to Spanish Fort Town Center and be a part of the evolution and growth of this dynamic community center. The addition of more great restaurants and retailers continues to attract patrons and diners to the development and benefits the surrounding retailers—this is a true destination location for everyone,” said McArthur. “We are proud of the great strides made to move this project forward—from Cypress Equities’ investment in the Pavilion and park to the revitalization of the small shops and the latest addition of The Fort. We look forward to welcoming more great tenants and amenities to Spanish Fort Town Center soon!”
Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, Cavender’s, La-Z-Boy, Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park and The Fort Container Park, is a 230-acre premier master-planned development located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 98 in Baldwin County. The center includes 450,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a residential apartment community, office space, hotels, banks and entertainment options.
Over the last two years, Stirling Properties has helped to successfully secure more than 44,000 square feet of new leases for the retail center, adding Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, Direct Furniture, Oishi Japanese Bar & Grill, Dixie Dental, The Fort restaurants and Cavender’s to the diverse tenant lineup. McArthur and Barnes are also currently in negotiations with various businesses that will add another 140,000 square feet of hotel and other uses.
For Spanish Fort Town Center leasing & sales information, contact Angie McArthur at (251) 375-2481 / amcarthur@stirlingprop.com or Jeff Barnes, CCIM, at (251) 375-2496 / jbarnes@stirlingprop.com.
New Tom Thumb Development Planned for The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama
Rendering courtesy of Stirling Properties/LK Architecture
Stirling Properties announces a new Tom Thumb development planned for The Wharf mixed-use property in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Tom Thumb recently purchased 3.94 acres of land located at the intersection of Canal Road and Wharf Parkway East in Orange Beach for the development of a Tom Thumb convenience store, gas pumps and car wash. Other planned improvements for the property will also incorporate a Burger King and Cinnabon. Construction is expected to commence soon.
Jeff Barnes, CCIM, Senior Advisor with Stirling Properties, represented the seller in the transaction. Lydia Franz, with Re/Max of Orange Beach, represented Tom Thumb.
Positioned on 222 acres along the south side of the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach, Alabama, The Wharf is one of the most dynamic and inviting mixed-use destinations along the Gulf Coast. Consisting of more than 380,000 square feet of commercial lease space, the current mix of tenants includes retail shopping, entertainment, bar and restaurant options, office and professional services, a 15-screen movie theater, a 10,000-seat amphitheater, a 112′ Ferris wheel, residential condominiums, convention space, meeting facilities, a 170-slip marina, and a 132-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Sites and land for additional development and build-to-suit also exist.
For information about available real estate at The Wharf, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM at (251) 375-2496 or jbarnes@stirlingprop.com.
