Date: Fri 11-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Sand-Hill-Plaza-MJB-Realtors

Full Text:

Sand Hill Plaza Gets New Management

(with carryover cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Sand Hill Plaza is now under new management following the takeover of

Newtown's largest shopping center by MJB Real Estate Services of Westport on

September 1.

MJB has been named leasing broker and managing agent. President Mark J.

Brockwell negotiated the transaction.

With the change in management comes the renewed prospect that the 14,000

square feet of unrented retail space in the "dead-zone" will finally be rented

out.

"We've got big plans for the plaza," noted Mr Brockwell. "We're looking to

find one tenant for the entire available space."

Overall, the 160,000-square-foot plaza on Route 25 appears to be doing quite

well, with almost all store space currently being occupied. Last week, the

plaza's newest store, Lechters, moved in. However, much of the often desolate

mini-mall remains empty as a succession of businesses move in, only to pack up

and move out a few months later.

The mall is situated at the north end of the shopping complex more than 500

feet away from Super Stop & Shop, the plaza's marquee store.

The Hutensky Group of Hartford, which managed the plaza up until August 31,

expressed its frustration in finding tenants willing to pay the high rent

despite the mall's lack of exposure.

"It's a difficult retail space. A lot of tenants like to be close to the

traffic and Super Stop & Shop. Those closest to the supermarket have done

well," acknowledged Bob Dombi of the Hutensky Group.

MJB's marketing campaign will target those problem areas, according to Cecilia

Tomaselli. The marketing company plans to renovate the interior of the mall,

creating one large space for a restaurant or large retail store, such as a

children's clothing shop.

The overall plaza will be marketed as a community and regional shopping

center.

MJB plans to present the Sand Hill Plaza at the New York and Las Vegas ICSC

conventions.

Nearly two years ago, a Duchess fast food restaurant moved out of the mini

mall, as did Superstar Sports a few months earlier. Both businesses fronted

Route 25, but were clearly out of the loop for customers. The Duchess space

has been vacant ever since, with only H&R Block occasionally leasing the space

next door.

Another difficult area to lease is the restaurant space in the rear section of

the mini-mall. McNally's Steak and Ale House moved out of that space a year

ago, becoming the fourth restaurant to abandon the location, following in the

footsteps of failed eateries like K.C. Grille, Town & Country Pizza and The

Ocean Sea Grill. That space, with its lack of exposure and high rent, has been

vacant since McNally's left.

The plaza opened in 1990 by then-owner Sand Hill Limited Partnership. It was

sold in December 1995 to D.D. Newtown Partners, which is headquartered in New

York City.

Mall stores with frontage on the plaza's main parking lot, like Eye Care Plus,

Tunes and Mail Boxes, Etc, have managed to stay in business, as have those

closest to Super Stop & Shop, TJ Maxx and Toy Works. The mini-mall lacks

sufficient adjacent parking, killing business, according to Mr Dombi.