Shopping Center Goes Local, Fills Up

With the signing of Japanese restaurant Shabu Shabu (1,400 SF), the 50k SF Imperial Promenade shopping center in Anaheim is fully leased. (Did they celebrate with sashimi?) It's been more than an ordinary lease-up for Coreland Cos, which reps owners DeBeikes Investment Co and Warmington Properties. It was a recovery from a downward spiral. Imperial Promenade is well-positioned along Imperial Highway, but in 2008 Cal-Trans constructed an overpass to re-route traffic along Imperial Highway over an adjacent railroad track. A 30-foot wall was built (pictured), substantially blocking the center. The property quickly began to lose tenants, especially national ones, and by late 2010 had reached 30% vacancy, a drastic change from previous decades of 95% occupancy.

"You just have to get a bit more creative when you cant secure national tenants, DeBeikes Investment Cos Brittany DeBeikes(above with Corelands Ben Terry, Warmingtons John Garlington, and Corelands Matt Hammond)tells us. They had no choice but to focus on daytime, destination lifestyle shoppers.That meant tenants that would bring women to the center and keep them there while they go to Pilates, grab a juice, eat, and stop by the beauty store or nail salon. (That actually sounds like a good plan... if anybody asks, tell them we're out at a groundbreaking.) Such tenants have included Pure Barre, Nekter Juice Bar, Fine Wine & Spirits, Fuji Grill, Anaheim Bike Shop and Curry Out.