Phoenix, AZ (June 7, 2023) — Newmark announces facilitating the sale of Ahwatukee Mercado, a 95% leased retail center shadow-anchored by Safeway Grocery Store. The asset was traded for an undisclosed amount.
Newmark Senior Managing Directors Steve Julius, Jesse Goldsmith, and Director Chase Dorsett represented the seller, Westwood Financial. The buyer was Investments Concepts, Inc.
“This is a fantastic, stable income-producing shopping center with the neighborhood grocery store draw that investors are looking for,” said Julius. “The retail market in Phoenix is very healthy. The asset traded at a 6.75% cap rate, a trend we continue to see among grocery center assets as investors desire to invest at a higher cap rate than the cost of borrowing. This deal also obtained favorable new financing at a great rate.”
Located at 4747 East Elliot Road, the property totals 54,065 square feet, including a Safeway Grocery Store and 21 tenants, and two freestanding restaurants. Ahwatukee Mercado is just one mile west of the I-10 Freeway and adjacent to residential neighborhoods, Walgreens, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Chase Bank.
The shopping center is situated at the lighted intersection of Elliot Road and 48th Street, just minutes from a major employment district, exposing the property to nearly 60,000 vehicles daily. Located in a high-demographic neighborhood, the property is proximate to major freeways, the airport, and quick access to all parts of the Phoenix MSA.
Despite a slowing U.S. economy, 2023 forecasts in the Phoenix retail market are overwhelmingly positive, with every major statistical category performing stronger than the market has seen in the last two decades. Sales transaction volume in the first quarter of 2023 totaled $369 million, with the rolling four-quarters volume remaining over $2 billion. Retail leasing remained strong, with vacancy dropping for another consecutive quarter at 5% throughout the Metro. According to Newmark Research, investor and user optimism in the Phoenix market remains high due to consistently experiencing the highest population growth of any metro area and a steadily decreasing vacancy rate Newmark Research.