Source: https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/national-shoe-store-chain-to-open-soon-in-crystal-river/article_71db6ce8-8e07-11e9-8e68-f35deab5cc51.html

Posted on: June 11th, 2019 by admin

619 Connelly Springs Road – Lenoir-PARTEND–

June 5, 2019

–PARTEND–

If you live or work in Lenoir today, and want to experience an authentic Starbucks coffeehouse, the closest one is sixteen miles to the south in Hickory or 20.8 miles to the north in Boone.

But come 2020, Lenoir will be home to one of Starbucks’ newest freestanding coffeehouses on Blowing Rock Boulevard, next door to Dairy Queen.  For those in a hurry, the Lenoir Starbucks will also offer a drive-thru.

This new location is only the very latest in a string of new private investments bringing iconic, national brands to the Caldwell economy.  Earlier this week, GEMCAP Development began site preparation at the Blowing Rock Boulevard location.

Caldwell Chamber president, Bryan Moore, and EDC director, Deborah Murray, marked the occasion with their own groundbreaking moment.  “These are exciting moments for our economy and need to be celebrated,” Moore said. “These are the services and amenities that will bring even more commerce to the area.”

In recent years Murray has acquired by popular demand a bucket list of publicly hoped-for national brands. “We have worked to generate interest and confidence in our community from these well-known companies,” she said. “We work with property owners, brokers, developers, tenants—whoever we can to land the big fish. And Starbucks has been one of those must-haves.”

VanGuard Associates, headquartered in Atlanta, acquired the Lenoir Festival Shopping Center in 2016. The 144,239 square foot center is anchored by Belk Department Store, Tractor Supply and Bargain Hunt.  Fronting 321 are its outparcels housing Dairy Queen and soon to be Starbucks. VanGuard specializes in leasing and management of its properties in GA, FL, AL, LA, SC and NC. The company’s portfolio includes 45 shopping centers, several office parks and three nationally branded hotels.

‘We are thrilled to be adding Starbucks to our property and to the Lenoir market. Starbucks is a first-tier retailer, and they were at the very top of our wish list for this site.  Retailers pay close attention to who is opening, and where, and Starbucks carries a lot of weight when it comes to the perception of a market by other retail chains. We are excited for what this means to the community, and are indebted to Deborah Murray and the EDC for their diligence and assistance in bringing this deal to fruition,” said VanGuard executive Tim O’Neill.

For more information, contact:

Deborah Murray at Caldwell EDC   828-759-3654

Tim O’Neill, VanGuard Associates, Atlanta GA   770-955-7709

Source: http://www.caldwelledc.org/news-section/6-10-2019-lenoir-will-be-home-to-one-of-starbucks-newest-freestanding-coffeehouses/

An Atlanta development company has bought the Lenoir shopping center anchored by Belk and Tractor Supply Co., and plans to make improvements to fill its vacant storefronts.

Lenoir Retail I, a limited liability company started by Vanguard Associates, purchased the shopping center on Blowing Rock Boulevard behind the former Jack in the Box restaurant – which is not part of the purchase – for $2.2 million. On its website, Vanguard describes itself as a “property management and primarily big-box development company with a main focus on the retail sector.”

Vern Hakes, who handled the deal for Vanguard, said the company expects to maintain ownership after renovations and improvements.

“We buy shopping centers that have issues and redevelop them,” Hakes said. “The majority of the time we lease, manage and hold on to them. Any time we buy something, we’re comfortable owning it.”

He said the company manages about 30 shopping centers in the Southeast, with Tractor Supply a tenant in several, including recent Vanguard additions in Tifton, Ga., and Leesburg, Fla.

Hakes said he hopes Vanguard can maintain long-term relationships with Belk and Tractor Supply, which are currently under lease agreements in the two northern-most storefronts. He said Vanguard has been in touch with several prospective tenants for the other spaces.

“We’re going to try to turn a vacant eyesore into a thriving shopping center,” Hakes said. “We hope to have them up to full capacity. We want to make sure everything looks nice. Empty space doesn’t do anything good for anybody.”

Hakes said Vanguard may divide the largest of the vacant spaces – formerly a Bi-Lo grocery store – into two retail spaces.

Hakes said the property, which has been called Lenoir Festival Shopping Center, was the finest site available in Lenoir.

Caldwell County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Deborah Murray said she worked with at least three parties in buying the shopping center.

“Anybody who wants to get in there and do something with it, I’m excited about it,” Murray said. “It was a highly prized piece of property. My hope is that somebody is going to get in there and really work it.”

By John Brasier, (Lenoir) News-Topic

Reference: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/atlanta-developer-buys-lenoir-shopping-center-caldwell-county/