CORFAC News

First-of-its-kind market attracts artisans, specialty purveyors and small businessesMesa, Ariz. (July 6, 2010) — Commercial Properties, Inc. (CPI)/CORFAC International today announced it was retained as exclusive leasing agent for POOL, a new 41,000-square-foot collaborative market opening in Mesa that is scheduled to open near the end of this month.POOL is an incubator-marketplace hybrid that brings together specialty purveyors, small businesses, artisans and privately owned merchants in a public market-like setting that will offer the community a distinctive way to shop, socialize, dine and be entertained.Cary Newton(cnewton@cpiaz.com), and J. Benham Malcom (bmalcom@cpiaz.com) of CPI’s Retail Group in Tempe are heading the leasing team for POOL. The property is owned by Los Angeles-based GRL Mesa Developments, LLC, a private investor. POOL is being built by real-estate developer Brad Weinstock.“POOL is unlike any retail establishment that currently exists in the region,” said Mr. Newton. “It is a distinctive gathering place of commerce and entertainment that is poised to revitalize Mesa.”Modeled after some of the most famous public markets in the U.S., including Pike Place in Seattle, Oxbow Market in Napa Valley and the Milwaukee Market in Wisconsin, POOL will house more than 100 merchants along with a specialty restaurant, located in the former Mervyn’s on the northeast corner of Stapley Drive and Main Street. The entire building is approximately 100,000 square feet and the first 41,000 square feet (for the market) is fully redeveloped. The remaining 59,000 square feet is soft-shell space and will be built out at a later date.POOL features specialty merchants selling a diverse mix of high-quality products and merchandise year-round, seven days a week. Existing merchants include: Aspen Renee Flower Boutique, Great Embroidery, Lation Jewelers, HomeSmart, Poppy’s Shaved Ice, Shake Things Up, East Main Street Café, Desert Valley Gifts, Desert Rose Theater, Brown Music Company and A & M Graphics.Merchants that POOL hopes to attract are a breadsmith, confectioners, those with organic products, artists, photographers and up-and-coming designers. POOL will also be a hub of activity, with entertainment and interactive events happening weekly. Spaces within POOL will be dedicated, and in certain instances donated, to local artists, musicians, comedians, dance and performing troupes and chefs hosting cooking classes.About POOLPOOL is a community marketplace that brings together specialty purveyors, small businesses, artisans and privately-owned merchants that offer a different way to shop, socialize, eat and be entertained. A gathering place for people of all ages, POOL allows visitors to experience a unique mix of local merchants and be part of engaging activities and events. POOL reflects the character, culture and diversity of the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.pooltogether.com .CPI/CORFAC International is locally owned and operated in the Phoenix and a dominant force in commercial real estate. The company is proudly affiliated with CORFAC International, which is one of the largest commercial real estate services organizations in the world and celebrates its 21st year in 2010. U.S.-based CORFAC is comprised of privately held entrepreneurial firms serving more than 150 markets in the Americas and internationally through alliances with UK-based King Sturge, BDIin Mexico,Rios Commercialin Puerto Rico and Panama-based Latin American Corporate Property Services. In recent years, CORFAC firms completed over 9,000 commercial real estate transactions annually, encompassing more than 300 million square feet and valued each year in excess of $30 billion.  For more information on CORFAC contact 954-923-6160, info@corfac.com or visit www.corfac.com.