Stirling Properties Welcomes Mike Rayburn as Sales & Leasing Executive
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to welcome Mike Rayburn as Sales & Leasing Executive for its Commercial Brokerage Division. He will work from the company’s Baton Rouge office located at 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 303. This marks Rayburn’s second stint with Stirling Properties, having worked for the company from 1988 to 1994.
Rayburn brings more than 30 years of successful commercial real estate experience with various transaction types, including the sales and leasing of retail and office properties, new developments and redeveloped properties.
He has extensive capability working in a transactional and advisory capacity for a broad range of national, regional and local clients, private portfolio owners and managers, and investors.
From market research and site selection to identifying opportunities and value-add for problem properties, Rayburn has a strong background in forecasting goals, strategy development, and implementation necessary to grow and maintain revenue stream and asset life for clients.
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Rayburn served as Senior Leasing Representative with Commercial Properties Realty Trust in Baton Rouge, the for-profit arm of Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF). In this role, he worked on commercial real estate ventures that created long-term value and impact for the Capitol Region. He was part of the team that facilitated notable revitalization projects such as Bon Carré retail redevelopment, Acadian Village—home of Louisiana’s first Trader Joe’s, the Hilton Capitol Center, and the IBM Service Center, just to name a few.
Rayburn is an active member in the Commercial Investment Division (CID) of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Mike Rayburn can be reached at (225) 329-0277 or mrayburn@stirlingprop.com.
Club 4 Fitness continues to flex its muscle across the Gulf South
Club 4 Fitness continues a rapid expansion effort across the Gulf South region with the addition of four new locations in Alabama and Louisiana. Justin Toomey, Broker Associate with Stirling Properties, and Kenneth Herring, Broker with Kerioth Corporation, worked with the all-inclusive fitness facility to identify and secure the latest retail locations.
Club 4 Fitness will occupy 47,061 square feet of retail space in McGregor Square located at 3930 Airport Blvd in Mobile, Alabama, and plans to open in the second quarter of 2019. Buff Teague and Leigh Dale Younce with JLL represented the landlord at McGregor Square.
The Club is also leasing 26,500 square feet of space in Wildwood Center located at 265 Lakeshore Parkway and 30,187 square feet at Brook Highland Plaza in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as 33,387 square feet at Country Club Plaza in Slidell, Louisiana. These three locations are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2019 or early 2020.
The company currently has 14 fitness facilities operating or coming soon throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with more on the way. Plans are in place for an aggressive expansion effort across the southeastern region over the next few years.
“Stirling Properties is proud to work with Club 4 Fitness to bring its quality fitness concept to our local markets in the Gulf South,” said Toomey. “As consumers continue to prioritize health, the fitness industry is growing faster than it has ever before—a trend creating significant opportunity for the commercial real estate sector and property owners trying to backfill empty retail space.”
Fitness and health clubs have morphed into a more than $30-billion-a-year industry in the U.S., with growth by at least 3-4% annually for the last ten years. According to research, there are currently more than 36,000 health and fitness facilities across the country boasting more than 60 million members.
Spending in health clubs is growing
(Compiled data from ICSC)
“We anticipate these numbers to grow even more—possibly double over the next 10-15 years—further signifying a very successful future for Club 4 Fitness and other fitness facilities,” said Toomey.
For leasing information, contact Justin Toomey at jbtoomey@stirlingprop.com or (251) 342-7229.
Stirling Properties Welcomes Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar to Fremaux Town Center in Slidell
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar at River Chase in Covington
Stirling Properties and CBL Properties are pleased to announce that Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar is coming to Fremaux Town Center mixed-use development in Slidell, Louisiana. This marks the 2nd Northshore location for the award-winning, family-friendly restaurant and bar.
DBMC Restaurants, dba Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, recently closed on the purchase of 1.5 acres of property located at the corner of Fremaux Avenue and Town Center Parkway, near the entrance to the retail center. Construction on the site began last month. The restaurant will occupy approximately 8,000 square feet of space and is expected to open in June of 2019. DBMC Restaurants is a veteran restaurant group that currently operates three restaurant brands across six states. It is one of the largest franchisees of Walk-On’s with growth plans to add four more restaurant locations this year.
“Although we have a broad reach across the South, we strive to keep a small company culture—and being based out of Baton Rouge, we are very excited to open this Walk-On’s in our backyard,” said Jason Gisclair, President of DBMC Restaurants. “Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar is a great brand with Louisiana roots and a Louisiana inspired menu, making it a perfect fit for the Slidell area. We look forward to becoming part of Fremaux Town Center and the local community.”
Stirling Properties’ Senior Sales & Leasing Executive, Ryan Pecot, represented the property owners in the sale. Tommy Vervaeke of Carlton & Associates Real Estate worked with Walk-On’s to secure the location.
The popular sports-themed restaurant started by two LSU students in Baton Rouge has thrived over the years and expanded into multiple locations with another 100 locations in the works across 15 states. Currently, there are 17 Walk-On’s franchises operating in Louisiana. This marks the 2nd location for the Northshore area, with the first opening at Stirling Properties’ River Chase development in Covington.
“Stirling Properties is excited to welcome Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar to Fremaux Town Center and the Slidell community,” said Townsend Underhill, President of Development with Stirling Properties. “We have worked with this operator in the past, and we know what a great group of community-oriented people they are. Walk On’s will be a great addition to our Fremaux Town Center development and will further enhance the dynamic restaurant and retail assortment for our area.”
Fremaux Town Center, anchored by Dillard’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, and Best Buy, is part of the roughly 350-acre regional mixed-use development located at the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and Fremaux Avenue in Slidell, Louisiana. The retail center includes more than 640,000 square feet of shopping and restaurant options, and is jointly owned and operated by CBL and Stirling Properties. The adjoining Fremaux Park includes Retreat at Fremaux Town Center luxury residential apartment units, Springhill Suites by Marriott (soon under construction), Saltgrass Steak House (coming soon), and the recently announced Dana Inc. Service & Assembly Center. Additional phases are coming soon with added residential, retail, industrial and office park.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pécot at 337.572.0246 / rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Michael Oswald at 423.490.8272 / mike.oswald@cblproperties.com.
Stirling Properties Announces New Tenants for Cornerview Plaza in Gonzales, LA
Redevelopment of former Kmart into multi-tenant retail center.
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company announces and welcomes new tenants to Cornerview Plaza retail center located at the corner of Airline Highway and Cornerview Street in Gonzales, Louisiana.
Marshalls, ULTA Beauty, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below and Aspen Dental will join the tenant lineup at Cornerview Plaza. The new retailers join AT&T, and anchor-tenant Rouse’s Market.
Ryan Pécot, Senior Retail Leasing & Development Executive with Stirling Properties, worked on behalf of the landlord in securing the tenants for the center.
Marshalls, ULTA Beauty, Ross Dress for Less and Five Below will backfill the 40-year-old, 86,000-square-foot former Kmart space into a fully renovated, upscale retail center. A 3,500-square-foot outparcel building is also being constructed on the property for Aspen Dental. Stirling Properties serves as the Asset Manager and exclusive leasing agent of the property, and is overseeing the redevelopment project. The company will also continue daily property management operations following completion.
Construction on the site has commenced. Upon completion of the redevelopment project, Cornerview Plaza will include nearly 124,000 square feet of total retail space.
“Stirling Properties is pleased to be a part of the redevelopment of Cornerview Plaza and to officially welcome these highly anticipated tenants to the Gonzales market,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President with Stirling Properties. “We are excited to work with the property owner to move this project forward and reestablish Cornerview as a major shopping destination for the surrounding Ascension community.”
“Cornerview Plaza is ideally situated in the heart of Gonzales’s primary retail corridor, drawing shoppers from numerous surrounding communities. This center offers great visibility and foot traffic for tenants—which helped us to secure these national retailers. Ross, Marshalls, ULTA and Five Below all have locations in nearby Baton Rouge, proving that this is a thriving multi-store region that can support high retail demand,” said Pécot.
For leasing information, contact Ryan Pécot at 337.572.0246 / rpecot@stirlingprop.com.
National Association of REALTORS® Names Stirling Properties’ Beth Cristina as Regional Vice-President
Stirling Properties’ Senior Broker Associate, Beth Cristina, ALC, has been selected by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) as 2019 Regional Vice President. She will oversee Region 10 which encompasses Louisiana and Texas.
In her new role as Regional Vice President, Cristina will be responsible for serving as a spokesperson for the association, identifying problems or opportunities within the region, and assisting wherever possible. She will also be accountable for attending state conventions and annual meetings of the National Association and chairing the regional caucus meetings to conduct business affairs and exchange information. Cristina will join 13 other elected individuals who are appointed to administer the work of the National Association in their respective regions.
“I am honored to be elected as the NAR 2019 Regional Vice President for Louisiana and Texas,” said Cristina. “I am very motivated and will continue to be a driving force in all of NAR’s efforts to serve its members.”
Cristina has over thirty-eight years of successful experience in commercial real estate sales, leasing, development, and investments. Her qualifications include retail and office market analysis, tenant/landlord and purchaser/seller representation, marketing sales, leasing strategies, and consulting services. She has earned numerous awards and recognition throughout her career, including Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Real Estate (2011), Realtor of the Year (2010), and Woman of the Year (2005).
She is affiliated with several business and professional organizations, including Realtor Land Institute (RLI); Louisiana Realtors (LR), where she served as 2015 President; New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR), where she served as 2005 President; and Commercial Investment Division (CID) of NOMAR, where she served as President for 2000 and 2008. Most recently, she served as NAR’s 2018 Commercial Committee Chair and assumed the position for one year.
The National Association of REALTORS® is America’s largest trade association, representing over 1.3 million members, including NAR’s institutes, societies, and councils, involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Membership is composed of residential and commercial realtors who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others engaged in the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of approximately 1,200 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS®.
Beth Cristina can be reached at (504) 620-8127 or bcristina@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Celebrates Groundbreaking of Dana Incorporated Service and Assembly Center in Slidell, Louisiana
Marks 1st of industrial expansion efforts in Fremaux mixed-use development.
Pictured L to R: Michael Unrein, Dave Hunt, Craig Nichols, Ed Greif, Mayor Greg Cromer, Parish President Pat Brister, Don Shea, Councilman Val Vanney, Councilman Kenny Tamborella, Councilwoman Leslie Denham, Debe Levis, Townsend Underhill
Stirling Properties and St. Tammany Parish community leaders celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Dana Incorporated (NYSE: DAN) Service and Assembly Center at Fremaux Park in Slidell, Louisiana. A formal turning-of-the-dirt ceremony was held with Honorable Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President; Honorable Greg Cromer, Mayor of Slidell; Ed Greif, General Manager of Off-highway for the Americas with Dana Incorporated; Don Shea, CEO of East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce; and Townsend Underhill, President of Development with Stirling Properties. Fremaux Park is the mixed-use property surrounding the Fremaux Town Center retail development.
Stirling Properties is developing the nearly 32,000-square-foot industrial facility located at the corner of Town Center Parkway and Old Spanish Trail for Dana. The new site will house the relocation and expansion of its service and assembly center, which specializes in repairing and refurbishing large-scale industrial gearboxes. The company’s current operations in Slidell will transition to the larger facility to meet the growing demand for industrial gearbox service, repair, and refurbishment.
Construction on the site began in November and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019. Bradley Cook, Sales & Leasing Executive with Stirling Properties, worked with the company to identify and secure the location.
Bradley Cook, Debe Levis, Marc Bourgeois, Billie Semmes, Townsend Underhill, Cher Levis Hunt, Dick Cyr, Patrick Malik
Dana is a world leader in highly engineered solutions for improving the efficiency, performance, and sustainability of powered vehicles and machinery. Dana supports the passenger vehicle, commercial truck, and off-highway markets, as well as industrial and stationary equipment applications. Founded in 1904, Dana employs more than 30,000 people in 33 countries on six continents.
“Dana in Slidell has a highly experienced team of service and repair professionals who are committed to meeting the needs of our customers,” said Dave Hunt, director of service and manufacturing operations for Dana Off-highway Drive and Motion Technologies. “This new facility will grow our service and repair business, while expanding our capabilities to manufacture gears on-site, reducing lead times for our customers.”
“A project of this scope—with projected growth to double in size and employment—this is a tremendous opportunity for Slidell and the entire parish,” said Greg Cromer, Mayor of Slidell. “Fremaux Park is a great development with retail, residential, and business all combined. It’s what we want to do—live, work, and play in one place. This is exactly how we want to grow our community, and this is how we are going to do it. We thank Dana for helping to lift up our community and becoming a good corporate partner, and we look forward to a long relationship with them.”
“I want to thank Dana Incorporated for choosing Slidell — and St. Tammany Parish, to locate this facility. We know you have a choice and we appreciate you choosing us. We look forward to the economic invigoration and diversity this facility will spur,” said Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President. “We appreciate the upcoming employment opportunities for our educated and ready workforce. We look forward to a good working relationship with Dana.”
“Stirling Properties is thrilled to welcome Dana to Fremaux Park and celebrate the groundbreaking of this site,” said Townsend Underhill, President of Development with Stirling Properties. “This is a huge economic win for Slidell and the surrounding greater New Orleans region. Dana is a world-wide company with a global footprint. This new facility will be a unique operation nationally—and the building was designed with ample flex space to allow for future expansion. We look forward to working with Dana and having them as an anchor tenant in the Fremaux Park development.”
Fremaux Park is part of the roughly 350-acre regional mixed-use development located at the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and Fremaux Avenue in Slidell, Louisiana. It includes Retreat at Fremaux Town Center’s 296 luxury residential apartment units, Saltgrass Steak House (coming soon), and Springhill Suites by Marriott soon under construction. Additional phases are coming soon with added residential, retail, industrial, and office park. The adjoining Fremaux Town Center, anchored by Dillard’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, and Best Buy, includes more than 640,000 square feet of retail and restaurant options.
For leasing or sales information, contact Ryan Pécot at 337.572.0246 / rpecot@stirlingprop.com or Bradley Cook at 985.246.3720 / bcook@stirlingprop.com.
