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Buckhead Developer Ready to Rock #RECON15 for 30th Time

ATLANTA (April 8, 2015) - It's hard to believe Atlanta's rocking retail developer has been going at it for 30 years, but it's true. Buckhead's Charlie Hendon is prepping for his 30th Hendon Rocks party at ICSC's RECon show in Vegas.

The legendary Hendon Rocks party No. 30 is set for Tuesday, May 19th at (where else?) The Joint at the Hard Rock Cafe & Casino. This year's theme is "Rock Steady" to pay homage to Hendon Properties' steady performance in commercial real estate for three decades.

To put his steady staying power into perspective, realize that most commercial developers has a career that's only slightly longer than an NFL player. The cyclical nature of development means players come and go and switch careers and switch back (after realizing why they hated being attorneys).

Hendon Rocks marks the firm's main marketing push of the year.

This year's party will include performances from soap-star turned Jessie'sgirl lover Rick Springfield and Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers, who undoubtedly will play the band's 1974 hit "Rock Steady."

 

Wild Wednesday 2008: Atlanta Real Estate Journalists Crash in Vegas

ATLANTA (May 21, 2014) - As this year's RECon comes to a close in Las Vegas, it's time to throwback six years to a night an auto accident in Las Vegas spiced up the trip to ICSC for a couple of Atlanta-based journalists and a reporter-turned-PR pro.

On May 19, 2008, Matt Valley (then editor of National Real Estate Investor, now an editor at France Media Inc.; Rachel Tobin (formerly Ramos and AJC reporter, now PR pro at Jackson Spalding); and I (then at Edelman, now at The Wilbert Group) were enjoying a herky-jerky taxi ride when the cabbie gambled and lost. He veered into another car, and we all collided. (See Rachel and Matt OK after the accident in this all-too-dark photo. It proves we were in Nevada, though.)

Here's the full post. I've also pasted the story below. 

LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2008) - Matt Valley, editor of National Real Estate Investor magazine, and Rachel Ramos, retail reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, are both in Las Vegas to cover ICSC’s Recon 2008. While here, they expect to cover some of the hottest stories in retail real estate, meet with key real estate magnates and eat at some of the city’s best restaurants. But on Monday night, they ended up seeing the seedier side of Vegas - an area better suited for an episode of "Cops - Sin City."

Matt, Rachel and I were heading to dinner in a taxi – Western Cab No. 165 – when our driver decided to try to drive past an older-model Cadillac Eldorado veering on a four-lane shortcut off the Strip. Just after the cab accelerated, the Eldorado’s driver tried to turn into our lane, and bam! The cars collided and Rachel bounced off Matt in the back seat.

Everyone was OK but somewhat shaken. (In photo at left, Matt and Rachel are all smiles outside the dented taxicab.)

Shortly after the crash, the cab and car pulled into a parking lot, and we quickly realized we were surrounded by sleazy extended-stay motels. Several residents, all male and none wearing shirts on this 109-degree day, came out of their rooms, lured by the sound of crunched metal. They quickly retreated into their rooms when motorcycle cop arrived.

The accident gave us a unique opportunity to experience the dichotomy of Las Vegas real estate while waiting for the Metropolitan Las Vegas Police and Nevada Taxi Authority to come interview us about the crash. Here we were, about two blocks from the Las Vegas Hilton and the site of Recon 2008, surrounded by lowly flophouses with names such as La Mesa Sierra Nevada. They represent a vastly different type of lodging than Mandalay Bay, Planet Hollywood hotel and the Renaissance, hotels we chose for the trip.

But we were the lucky ones. Once we gave our statements to the police and insurance adjustor, we jumped into another Western cab and headed for the Venetian for dinner at Bouchon.

Atlanta Firm Presents Future of Retail at Huge Real Estate Convention

ATLANTA (May 20, 2014) - The Secret Sauce, the first SlideShare in a series exploring the future of retail from North American Properties (NAP), argues that chef-driven restaurants are increasingly essential to the success of retail and mixed-use projects. North American Properties - Atlanta launched The Future of Retail series yesterday at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) RECon show in Las Vegas. 

 NAP is not just offering up theories. It is betting on the power of chef-driven restaurants. It has secured six of the Southeast’s hottest chefs for Avalon, a $600 million mixed-use development that will open in late October in Alpharetta, Ga.

The Secret Sauce: Why Retail and Mixed-Use Projects Need Local Chefs from Suong Nguyen

Those restaurateurs include Ford Fry, Shaun Doty, Steve Palmer, Brian Lewis, Ciaran Duffy and Giovanni Di Palma. The Secret Sauce shares interesting statistics about the rise of the foodie and the decline of the chain restaurant, as well as insights about how industry leaders are adapting to the trends. The Secret Sauce can be downloaded here. 

Avalon is a new experience in the timeless art of living well. In the heart of Alpharetta, this sustainably-designed, 86-acre development with more than 500,000 square feet of retail, a 12-screen all premium theater, conference center and full-service hotels, Class A office, single-family residences and luxury rental homes infuses resort-level hospitality throughout a walkable, seamlessly connected community of shopping, dining, entertainment, living, and working. It's more than just another place to go, it's a place to be — a hub of local art and activity that delivers the luxury of the modern South. At 2.4 million square feet and more than $600 million, Avalon is one of the largest projects currently underway in the United States. You can find more updates on Avalon at its website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter profile. - See more here.

Hendon Rocks Roars Back at ICSC RECon with Jenny McCarthy, Kick-Ass Lineup

Hendon Rocks, Atlanta developer Charlie Hendon's big bash at ICSC's RECon show in Vegas, is back at The Joint at the Hard Rock Cafe and better than ever. And he's got MTV star Jenny McCarthy in tow.
Check out this lineup. It's reminiscent of the rocking go-go days of past and a good sign retail is rebounding.

Leaving Las Vegas, Again, After Successful Trip

By Tony Wilbert, Wilbert News Strategies

LAS VEGAS (May 23, 2011) - As 30,000 people pack up and head to McCarran International Airport for flights home, it's time to reflect on ICSC's huge RECon show.

First, the overall mood proved to be much more upbeat in recent years. One developer from Oklahoma City, Okla., said he nearly canceled his trip this year because he had deals to close. Atlanta developer Jim Jacoby was in a great mood, celebrating his new deal with Porsche, which has committed to moving its North American headquarters to Jacoby's Aerotropolis mixed-use development adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

While in Vegas, a group issued an open letter calling for Porsche to consider leaving Georgia altogether because of just-signed illegal imigration law. Smartly, the automaker said, "Nein" and will continue with plans for the $100 million HQ at Aerotropolis.

As for Jacoby, he told ICSC revelers that the Federal Aviation Administration really likes Aerotropolis as a potential home to a 650,000-square-foot regional headquarters/training center. That will be another big win if Jacoby makes it happen.

Second, OliverMcMillan, new owners of the erstwhile Streets of Buckhead, used retail real estate's largest stage to announce a new name and whittled-down plans for the project. The new name "Buckhead Atlanta" didn't inspire too many people, so we've come up with some suggestions:

Peachtree at Buckhead (actual intersection of development); The Shoppes at Tony Buckhead; The Peachtree at Buckhead Avenue (Cousins Properties might have a little issue again of the project went the Avenue route).

Last, the Atlanta party of the year had to be Hartman Simons' 10th annual RECon bash. Yes, the law firm is a client, and no wasn't as glitzy as Hendon Rocks, but the party still raged at midnight. Even a fancy New York City marketer (Karen Fluharty) commented that the Hartman Simons party might be the social event of ICSC.

See you there next year.

As ICSC Kicks Off, Spotlight Shines Spotlight on "Turnaround Artist"

LAS VEGAS (May 22, 2011) - This year's ICSC RECon will be bigger than usual for Mark Toro. Managing partner of North American Properties, he comes to the large retail real estate convention as new owner of Atlantic Station's Town Center in Atlanta.

On New Year's Eve 2010, Cincinnati-based North American teamed with CB Richard Ellis Investors to acquire the retail center for a deep discount - $78.5 million. Though the center was 88 percent occupied at the time, several retailers were said to be paying discounted rents.

At 534,000 square feet, Atlantic Station's Town Center is the heart of the mini-city that rose from the ashes of a former steel plant. It's also the most-watched component fo the development, and it's achieved mixed results at best. 

But Toro has a plan to revitalize the young retail center. He leveraged the power of Twitter, Facebook and ULI-sponsored charette-style meet up to help form ideas. And Toro's bold plans landed him on the cover of the May edition of National Real Estate Investor. The cover features a large photo of Mark standing at Atantic Station with the words "Turnaround Artist."

It's great timing for Toro because the issue will be the one read by thousands of RECon attendees.

Toro, who took to Twitter to talk about his trip to Vegas, is feeling pretty good about the market these days. "After years in the abyss, it feels great to be headed to #Vegas with a smile on our faces," he said on Twitter yesterday.

As for Atlantic Station, Toro continues to tell the story of how North American will "unmall" the Town Center. "It tried to be all things to all people," Toro told NREI writer Ben Johnson. "It wanted to be a mall, but it's not a mall."

 For more on Toro, check out this Q-and-A from WNS client Hartman Simons' blog.