TUCSON, AZ — Scottsdale, Arizona-based SWH, LLC (Nick Christifulli and Jodi Johnson, managers) an affiliate of Christifulli Companies  has purchased 11.38 acres at the southwest corner of Valencia and Headley in Tucson for $3.3 million ($6.66 PSF) from JVBM Properties, LLC (James Click, Jr. and Robert Tuttle, members).

Larry Cesar, partner and vice-president at Broadway Realty & Trust in Tucson represented the seller and will represent the developer for sale and for lease at the new 75,000-square-foot shopping center, when fully built out.

Cesar told us the center will wrap around the large Octopus Car Wash at the westside of property, and consist of a bank pad on the corner of Headley & Valencia, several 17,700-square feet clothing stores and restaurants have shown interest in the center. Cesar is submitting plans to the City and expects blading to begin in approximately 60-days.

Located in the Midvale area, the new center is a block away from Tucson’s latest 104,000-square-feet Fry’s store at 1805 West Valencia, under construction with an anticipated opening this March-April. Cesare also handle the sale of the Fry’s site for Tuttle-Click

Buyer and developer, Christifulli, prior to establishing Christifulli Companies, was a founding partner of Vertical Holdings Company; a firm focused on community and neighborhood retail projects and long-term triple net build-to-suit developments for national retail tenants. Formerly representing a number of national retail tenants in the Western United States including: AMC Theaters, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Staples, Ross Dress for Less, Sports Authority, Home Base and Brinker International, among others. Christifulli has been in the shopping center business for more than 28 years and has been involved in over 20 million-square-feet of development and leasing.

For many years, Christifulli served as the Vice President of Development and Leasing for Westcor Partners, now a part of Macerich. Christifulli’s latest major retail development was Chauncey Ranch Center in Scottsdale, a 173,000-square-feet Whole Foods anchored shopping center.

“We’ve already had tremendous enthusiasm from tenants for this project,” Christifulli said.

Valencia is a main arterial road serving the Southwest Tucson submarket with approximately 50,000 average vehicles per day. Neighboring tenants include Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and several banks and restaurants.

Kurt Kalocin, vice-president of SRS Real Estate Partners in Phoenix represented the buyer / developer in this transaction.

For additional information, Kalocin can be reached at 602.682.6078 and Cesare should be contacted at 520.584.5804 for leasing and sales interest.

To learn more, see RED Comp #4190.

Kneader’s Bakery & Café will join Natural Grocers at the southeast corner of River and Craycroft to the south of Quik Trip. See Real Estate Daily News Natural Grocers Buys 4th Tucson Store for the Natural Grocers transaction.

The 42,150-square-feet of land at this corner was sold to Kneader’s developer, FFG Development of American Fork, UT for $950,000 ($22.54 PSF).

Kneader’s Bakery & Café will be approximately a 4,000-square-foot built-to-suit facing Craycroft on this site.

Kneader’s is all about breads. The concept is a European-style bakery where things are still made by hand, from simple, healthy ingredients the way it’s been done for a thousand years.

The first Kneader’s opened in 1997 in Orem, UT specialized in authentic European hearth breads made fresh daily. Kneaders also offers a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and 40-50 different pastries. Kneader’s fast-casual concept is to provide “fresh food fast”.

Kneader’s has been expanding rapidly, with over 30 locations, 7 in Phoenix and this will be the third in Tucson and the second to open. Kneader’s opened at Wilmot and Broadway last summer, and recently purchased a pad at Canyon Retail in Oro Valley. For Real Estate Daily News story click here New Development at Oro Valley Canyon and Canyons at Linda Vista Trail.

Regan Amato of Cushman & Wakefield in Phoenix represented the developer, FFG Development and G.T. Alley with Broadway Realty & Trust represented the seller, Craycroft / River Holdings, LLC (Joseph Cesare, manager).

For more information, Amato can be reached at 602.224.4468 and Alley should be contacted at 520.747.5700.

To learn more, see RED Comp #3694.