Johnny Rockets' new location in The Town Center of Virginia Beach has built-in customers from the Cosmopolitan apartments above.

DRE’s Recipe for Restaurant Site Selection Success

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA – From a rack of rib-eye to spoonfuls of shrimp fried rice to a cup of Joe on the go, Divaris Real Estate Inc. (DRE) has some food for thought.  As specialists in tenant representation of restaurant operators of all cuisines, DRE has completed a plate full of transactions for food service tenants in Divaris-leased and –managed properties as well as in multiple other locations in 2005.

In the hub of Virginia’s largest city, the menu was enhanced when three more restaurant chains leased space in The Town Center of Virginia Beach.   Two restaurants moved into the recently completed Block 10, which incorporates first-floor retail with the 11-story, deluxe Cosmopolitan Apartments and 800-car parking garage.  Adding some all-American fare is Johnny Rockets with its 2,289-square-foot restaurant.  And, Vie de France, the nation’s premier baker of authentic European breads, will feature a first-class, fast-casual concept in its new 4,049-square-foot location.  

Down Central Ave to Block 3, The Cheesecake Factory and Keagan’s Irish Pub have a new neighbor, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant.  With on-site brewing and food made fresh, from scratch, the beverage and cuisine restaurant is another great dining experience, joining Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Bravo! Cucino Italiana, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, California Pizza Kitchen, Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro, Funny Bones Comedy Club and Restaurant, Red Star Tavern, Town Center City Club, Zushi and Cold Stone Creamery.  Each member of the Town Center’s tenant mix was secured by DRE’s Virginia Beach office.

Similar to the Southside of Hampton Roads, the Peninsula carte de jour was enhanced by some eatery openings.  Italian restaurant Mama Lina’s signed a lease for 3,738 square feet of retail space in Newport News’ Denbigh Village Shopping Center.  Lynn Dunagan and Kathy Anderson of DRE’s Newport News office handled the lease negotiations for the landlord. 

If spaghetti and meatballs isn’t what the city’s residents crave, they can now indulge in new age Irish dishes.  Keagan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant expanded its locality list with the opening of a 4,412-square-foot site in Jefferson Commons Shopping Center.  Jay Burnell, of DRE's Virginia Beach office, represented the landlord, The Goodman Co., in this lease.

Keagan's Irish Pub and Restaurant opens in Newport News' Jefferson Commons Shopping Center.

            For the stomachs that are really grumbling, a buffet of Chinese food is ready and waiting in Ashland, Va.  Shu Juan Liu signed one of the year’s most prominent leases, occupying an 11,109-square-foot space of retail space in Ashland Hanover Shopping Center.  Lease negotiations for that site were handled by the Richmond office’s senior vice president Debbie Wake and Brenda Martin, on behalf of the landlord.

            Families in Ashburn, Va. can spend quality time as they enjoy a good meal at Beef O’Brady’s in Cameron Chase Village.  Operating more than 160 stores nationwide, the neighborhood sports pub just opened a 3,850 restaurant next door to Ashburn Ice Rink, with the help of DRE’s Rockville office.

While Virginia continues to boost its dining options, new sites weren’t bound by state lines.  Up north in Maryland, the Rockville office cooked up deals for ideal destinations for various restaurants:  Primo Italiano, signed a lease for 2,221 square feet in Rockville Town Center; Washington Bagel Company, leased 3,200 square feet in Randolph Hills Shopping Center; Black Steer Family Steak House opened a 4,500-square-foot location in Valley Park Commons; and Hot Noodle found a steaming site situated in San Souci Plaza in California, Md.

And, when the post-meal sleepiness starts to set in or at early morning rise, how about a cup of Joe on the go?  In North Carolina’s Belmont Square, Java Jo’z Drive-Thru coffee shop leased space for a double drive-though unit to provide consumers with a convenient cup of coffee.

No matter what’s dished up – international delight or down-home cooking -- Divaris Real Estate provides restaurant clients with the ingredients they need to select the perfect site.  That recipe for success is available from DRE’s Virginia Beach corporate headquarters office and on its website at www.divaris.com.