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.
Excitement Grows As The Fort Moves To Completion
Congratulations to Angie McArthur & Jeff Barnes, leasing agents with Stirling Properties, on the launch of the new container park in Spanish Fort Town Center!
Stirling Properties is so excited, we can’t CONTAIN it! The Fort, a new container park coming to Spanish Fort Town Center, is 100% leased and on-track to open in December. An official opening date and grand opening festivities will be announced soon.
Upon completion, The Fort will consist of approximately eight shipping containers that will be repurposed and transformed into functioning restaurants and shops, and will share a common open-air environment where patrons can sit and dine.
All tenants in the container park have been secured, including Beakers Coffee/Sno Biz, Blues Burger, Deuce Coop, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, Dragonfly Taco Bar, Happy Pizza, Soul Bowlz, and Tap Station. There will also be a retailer on-site stocked with “The Fort” official merchandise.
Last month, The Spanish Fort City Council approved the new development as an entertainment district, allowing patrons over the age of 21 to openly carry alcoholic beverages outdoors. This is a significant designation for The Fort, making it easier for visitors to move freely through the shared space of restaurants and shops.
Property owners, Dallas-based Cypress Equities, broke ground on the container park in September and the containers arrived on site in October. The Fort was initially expected to open in November of 2018, but construction delays due to inclement weather have pushed the opening back to December.
Angie McArthur, Broker Associate, and Jeff Barnes, Senior Investment Advisor/Broker Associate with Stirling Properties, serve as the leasing team for Cypress Equities and have been working with the overall Spanish Fort Town Center project since 2015.
“The addition of such an innovative concept has already created a new wave of energy and anticipation for Spanish Fort Town Center,” said McArthur. “And all of the excitement around The Fort has translated to new leases within the retail center. It’s thrilling to see the momentum of this project moving into the new year—and as a result, we look forward to welcoming new tenants to the space very soon!”
Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, and JCPenney, 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, an apartment community, hotels, banks, and entertainment options.
Over the last year, 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, Beauty World (currently under construction next to Kohl’s), Direct Furniture, Oishi Japanese Bar & Grill, and Tots2Teens Fun Salon to the diverse tenant lineup. McArthur and Barnes are also currently in negotiations with various retailers that will add another 30,000 square feet of shopping and dining options to the center.
In conjunction with the new container park, Spanish Fort Town Center is also launching “The Village,” a unique boutique retail concept that will consist of small and specialty shops such as food options, fitness providers, clothing, gifts, candles, accessories, and salon services. Spanish Fort Village will deliver a pedestrian- and family-friendly, urban environment unlike anything else in the market area. Leasing for space is currently underway. These units are located across from Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and The Fort.
For Spanish Fort Town Center leasing & sales information, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM, at (251) 375-2496 / jbarnes@stirlingprop.com or Angie McArthur at (251) 375-2481 / amcarthur@stirlingprop.com.
New Container Park (And More!) Coming to Spanish Fort Town Center
Congratulations to Angie McArthur & Jeff Barnes, leasing agents with Stirling Properties, on the launch of “The Fort!”
Stirling Properties is so excited, we can’t CONTAIN it! A new container park called “The Fort” is coming to Spanish Fort as part of the Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development in South Alabama.
Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, and JCPenney, 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, an apartment community, hotels, banks, and entertainment options.
Property owners, Dallas-based Cypress Equities, recently broke ground on the addition of a new container park, which will be composed of approximately eight shipping containers that will be repurposed and transformed into functioning restaurants and shops, and will share a common open-air environment where patrons can sit and dine.
Eight of the nine tenants that will operate in the container park have been secured, including Dragonfly Taco Bar, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, Soul Bowlz, Sno Biz, Deuce Coop, Beakers Coffee, Spanish Fort Pizza Co., and a local craft brewery. The energy and promise of the park resonated with tenants from the minute it launched and lease up was swift. The containers will arrive on site in October. The Fort is expected to open in November of 2018.
Angie McArthur, Broker Associate, and Jeff Barnes, Senior Investment Advisor/Broker Associate with Stirling Properties, serve as the leasing team for Cypress Equities and have been working with the overall Spanish Fort Town Center project since 2015. According to McArthur, great strides have been made to reactivate and move this project forward—from Cypress Equities’ investment in the Pavilion and park to the revitalization of the small shops, and now, the latest addition of The Fort.
She noted that over the last year, Stirling Properties helped to successfully secure more than 44,000 square feet of new leases for the retail center, adding Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, Beauty World (currently under construction next to Kohl’s), Direct Furniture, Oishi Japanese Bar & Grill, and Tots2Teens Fun Salon to the diverse tenant lineup. McArthur and Barnes are also currently in negotiations with various retailers that will add another 30,000 square feet of shopping and dining options to the center.
“Part of the goal behind the launch of the container park last year was increasing foot traffic in the retail center to support the shops and surrounding businesses,” said McArthur. “The addition of this great community space will attract even more patrons and diners to the development and offer family-friendly entertainment options for visitors that will also benefit the surrounding retailers—this will be a true destination location.”
In conjunction with the new container park, Spanish Fort Town Center is also launching “The Village,” a unique boutique retail concept that will consist of small and specialty shops such as food options, fitness providers, clothing, gifts, candles, accessories, and salon services. Spanish Fort Village will deliver a pedestrian- and family-friendly, urban environment unlike anything else in the market area. Leasing for the space is currently underway. These units are located across from Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and The Fort.
Spanish Fort has in the last decade experienced explosive residential growth—Baldwin County continues to be the fastest growing county in Alabama with 49% population growth since 2000—and has become a desirable community for families and new businesses alike. “Retail follows rooftops. We will continue to see even more growth in this area, and retailers will catch up to meet the increasing consumer demands,” added McArthur. “Stirling Properties is proud and excited to be a part of the evolution and growth of Spanish Fort Town Center, and we look forward to announcing more great tenants to come!”
For Spanish Fort Town Center leasing & sales information, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM, at (251) 375-2496 / jbarnes@stirlingprop.com or Angie McArthur at (251) 375-2481 / amcarthur@stirlingprop.com.
Suburban Office Space In Short Supply for Baldwin County
I recently attended a commercial real estate conference held in Birmingham, Alabama, where over 500 commercial brokers, developers, lenders, politicians, and business leaders gathered to learn of current trends in commercial real estate, as well as to gain a better understanding of how certain factors have and will continue to shape the future of Alabama. Prevalent themes centered on the rapid growth of the Gulf South region and the evolution of our industry—with progressive growth and opportunities on the horizon for the South Alabama market, notably, changes in the office market space.
Baldwin County continues to be the fastest growing county in Alabama with 49% population growth since 2000. The University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER), projects that the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro population will increase 43.6% over the next 20 years, and is anticipated to become the 4th largest MSA in the state by 2040. The recent arrival of the Walmart distribution center and Amazon fulfillment center, combined with the expected growth of companies such as Airbus and Austal, the continued success of the Port of Mobile, and the addition of the new bridge over Mobile Bay all point towards a bright future for the South Alabama region.
But as the population continues to increase throughout Baldwin County and new businesses are attracted to the region, the nonexistence of Class A office space outside of Mobile’s CBD is evident. The product simply doesn’t exist. The lack of available inventory can indeed be frustrating—not only to national commercial brokers seeking office space options for clients but to local economic developers tasked with recruiting industry and commerce to the area.
According to Lee Lawson, President and CEO of Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, “The lack of available professional office product in Baldwin County is a critical difference maker in converting economic development opportunities to successes. We continue to work with our partners both private and public to create the environment where economic development opportunity conversions can happen successfully. In the white-collar office arena, existing space in the marketplace creates a higher conversion opportunity ratio for new high-paying jobs in our community.”
Even more challenging would be to locate a Class A office building that meets the preferences of today’s changing workforce. There are certainly niche markets, such as Downtown Fairhope, that are starting to support a higher-end office product but on a smaller scale. Other options for office space along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, including Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, and Point Clear are primarily made up of smaller, older buildings, some of which are becoming antiquated. Office space needs for those users not willing to commute to broader markets such as Mobile or Pensacola are often met by converting retail space to office use or working from a home office.
On pace with national trends, office building features are evolving, with an emphasis on more open space for collaboration and shared-office facilities in high-tech buildings. Suburban locations with urban-type amenities are highly favored among the substantial millennial demographic shift and will create even more demand in the next few years as the age group continues to mature. Another popular suburban office trend is the mixed-use, live-work-play development model with walkability to nearby restaurants, retailers, and residential services.
To expound upon the shifting trends of suburban office space and the lack of Class A inventory in the area, Stirling Properties has recognized a significant need to provide for quality office space. We are currently underway on pre-leasing efforts for The Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center, a proposed 2-story, 44,000-square-foot, Class A office building strategically positioned along the I-10 corridor in Spanish Fort. This future development is in the bullseye of major growth in the county and provides convenient access to both Mobile and Pensacola. Not only will this new office building help to attract corporate and professional users to the area, but the new construction and design also allow the incorporation of the emerging styles that will change the way office space is utilized.
The Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center will include state-of-the-art construction such as efficient floor configurations, allowing tenants the ability to design space to incorporate innovative ways to potentially reduce square footage required, therefore, reducing rental expenses. Other features include flex space to encourage and promote collaboration among employees; flexibility in hours of operation, as the trend for 24/7 “shift” use evolves; and ample, free surface parking, resulting in significant cost savings when compared to paid parking typically associated with CBDs. It will also benefit from high interstate visibility and signage opportunities.
The office building is within walking distance of numerous on-site amenities associated with Spanish Fort Town Center, a mixed-use development consisting of retail, restaurants, and residential facilities. An on-site Container Park is also planned for 2018, with exciting new restaurant vendors.
Our region is quickly emerging as a top destination for business and corporate growth and relocation. Baldwin County has been named #1 in the state of Alabama for incoming business investment for the 2nd year in a row, and #1 in the state for Workforce Talent Attraction. If we are going to compete with other top markets—and win—we must be able to provide quality office space in our suburban markets.
Stirling Properties is excited to embrace and support the growth of Baldwin County and our region. With offices spanning the Gulf South, our team is well-equipped to recognize and execute strategic commercial real estate opportunities—from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
For additional information, please contact me at 251.375-2496 or jbarnes@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Is Pre-Leasing Offices At Spanish Fort Town Center
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pre-leasing Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center, a proposed Class-A office building to be located within the Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The offices will be situated along Bass Pro Drive on the east side of the center.
The proposed Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center includes the construction of a 2-story office building consisting of roughly 44,000 square feet. The building will feature state-of-the-art construction, efficient floor configurations, and ample surface parking. Adjacent land is available for additional office development phases to meet expansion requirements and demand.
Stirling Properties currently handles leasing for Spanish Fort Town Center. The proposed office development would be owned and managed by the company. Since opening its Mobile office in 2014, Stirling Properties remains committed to expanding its footprint in South Alabama and the surrounding region.
“The Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center will be a great addition to the area. It will be located within walking distance of abundant amenities that already exist as part of the overall Spanish Fort Town Center mixed-use development. This is a great example of the live, work, play development model that is becoming attractive to many companies and employees,” said Jeff Barnes, CCIM, Broker with Stirling Properties.
Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Urban Air, Fairfield Inn, and Courtyard by Marriot, 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, an apartment community, hotels, banks, and entertainment options.
Stirling Properties has a diverse portfolio of retail, office, mixed-use, healthcare, and hospitality developments and managed properties across the Gulf South region. The company recently developed a similar office product—Offices at River Chase—in the River Chase mixed-use center located in Covington, Louisiana.
For Offices at Spanish Fort Town Center leasing information, contact Jeff Barnes, CCIM, at (251) 375-2496 / jbarnes@stirlingprop.com or Angie McArthur at (251) 375-2481 / amcarthur@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at One St. Louis Centre, 1 St. Louis Street, Suite 4100 in Mobile, Alabama.
Stirling Properties Awarded Leasing Contract for Spanish Fort Town Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama
Stirling Properties has been awarded a contract to provide leasing services for Spanish Fort Town Center, a 447,748 square-foot mixed-use development, located in Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Totaling more than 230-acres at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Highway 90/98, Spanish Fort Town Center is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, JCPenney and Kohl’s. The site also features a Wells Fargo Bank, two Marriot hotels, retail and a restaurant. In addition to a new 3.5-acre community park, this prime location continues to undergo additional enhancements to match the sites superior access, interstate visibility and the highest traffic count in Baldwin County.
For information about available leasing opportunities, contact Jeff Barnes jbarnes@stirlingprop.com or 251-375-2496 or Angie McArthur amcarthur@stirlingprop.com or 251-375-2481.
Spanish Fort Town Center is owned and managed by Cypress Equities (Cypress). Cypress was founded in 1995 and has since established a national reputation synonymous with the premier development, operation and management of destination-class retail and mixed-use properties throughout the United States.
