Kite Realty Group is the latest retail landlord hungry for a Publix-anchored shopping center, buying a West Palm Beach site for $68 million.
An affiliate of Indianapolis-based Kite, led by CEO John Kite, acquired Village Commons Shopping Center at 831 Village Boulevard, records and real estate database Vizzda show.
The deal breaks down to $394 a square foot for the 172,493-square-foot shopping center. In addition to Publix, other tenants at Village Commons include AT&T, Duffy’s Sports Grill, European Wax Center, Jersey Mike’s, Tenet Health and The UPS store, the shopping center’s website shows.
Kite bought Village Commons from an affiliate of Atlanta-based Jamestown, which sold the 21-acre property for $17 million above its purchase price more than a decade ago. In 2014, Jamestown paid $51 million for the shopping center, records show.
In South Florida, Kite owns four other shopping centers, including three properties in Delray Beach, Miramar and Pembroke Pines anchored by Publix, Sprouts and Whole Foods, respectively, the firm’s website shows.
Retail buyers, including Jamestown, for the past year have been lining up for Publix-anchored retail properties like hungry customers waiting to order chicken tender subs at the deli counter.
In April, Jamestown paid $22.5 million for Tamarac Town Square, which is anchored by a Publix store and includes other tenants such as McDonald’s, Dollar Tree, Goodwill and Childtime Learning Centers.
Last month, Publix paid $40 million for a North Miami shopping center anchored by one of its stores. The Lakeland, Florida-based grocery chain also acquired five more Publix-anchored retail sites in South Florida for a combined $208.5 million since May. Also in December, Garden Commercial made its first South Florida acquisition when the Short Hills, New Jersey-based firm bought Plaza Del Mar in Manalapan for $37 million. The shopping center is anchored by a Publix store.