JUNE 13, 2023 – Panera will be moving to a pad and will be adding a drive-thru windows. Come and join the tremendous lineup of Whole Foods, Petco, Carter’s, Duluth Trading, and several others. We have two vacancies ranging from 1,980 sq. ft. to 2,600 sq. ft. Please reach out if you have interest!
MAY 19, 2022 – Harbor Freight Tools, a family-owned business launched in 1977 with over 1300 stores, serves over 40 million customers by providing an incredible assortment of quality tools to professionals and do-it-yourselfers, nationwide.
Tyler Lyman commented, “TRUE CRE very much appreciates the opportuntity to repressent Harbor Freight Tools in these three tri-state locations, and we worked diligently to find them the right properties, in the right locations to fit their growing business needs”.
APRIL 10, 2022 – Joe Baranowski, TRUE CRE Vice President, recently brokered a deal for Family Dollar and Dollar Tree to open a combined 18,000 ft. store center at Savin Rock Plaza in West Haven, Connecticut. This deal creates the second “combination store” for Family Dollar and Dollar Tree, with the first Combo-store being located on Barnum Avenue in Stratford, CT.
The combination store format is specifically designed to have Dollar Tree occupying 20% of the space with dollar-priced items, where the balance of 80% will be dedicated to higher-priced, discount merchandise along with food, dairy, and frozen foods in the Family Dollar section. Mr. Baranowski represented Family Dollar and Dollar Tree in this transaction.
THE PROPERTY: 200-250 CAPTAIN THOMAS BOULEVARD | WEST HAVEN, CT
Commenting on the deal, Baranowski expressed, “The coming together of these two market leaders, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree, into one entity, is a great example of how combining the strengths and core offerings of each retailer, definitely meets the needs of more consumers in this market. In fact, this new format was clearly needed in this specific area of West Haven, where there is actually a lack of food-related options, while at the same time there is a large and growing residential population – so the combination concepts definitely meets a growing unmet need in the marketplace.”
To learn more about this deal or our other areas of expertise please contact, Joe Baranowski directly at 203.762.6174 or email him at jb@truecre.com. Thank you.
APRIL 10, 2022 – Richard Schnider, TRUE CRE Vice President, recently brokered the deal for Aroma Joe’s to open its first location in Bristol, Connecticut, near the Farmington town line. Aroma Joe’s offers all-day breakfast at over 80 locations across the nation, and the company also is expected to open a second location in Waterbury, CT in the near future. Mr. Schnider, who has vast experience in the restaurant and quick serve marketplace, represented Aroma Joe’s during the transaction. Aroma Joe’s is a family-friendly, pick-up-only franchise, that has become widely popular due to its great breakfast menu, coupled with prompt, reliable and courteous service windows.
THE PROPERTY: 1235 FARMINGTON AVENUE | BRISTOL, CT
Commenting on the deal, Schnider expressed, “This location is perfect for the first Aroma Joe’s location in the state, and we expect more to follow. The site has great co-tenancy with the likes of Wendy’s, Edge and other high-quality tenants. Further, people love Aroma Joe’s unique pick-up only, drive thru model, which makes sense for people who are on the go, but still want a good meal in the morning. Their customer service is very personal, where customers often get to know their friendly servers well, as Aroma Joe’s becomes part of their morning routine.”
To learn more about this deal or our other areas of expertise please contact, Richard Schnider directly at 203.762.6173 or email him at rs@truecre.com. Thank you.
How would you describe your specialty, background, and area of focus?
“I have been with TRUE CRE for 6 years, specializing in landlord and tenant representation; building many enduring relationships with prominent landlords by leasing their properties. Over my career I have secured tenant relationships with the following clients: Moe’s Southwest Grill, Aroma Joe’s, Wings Over, Blackstone Group, Sport Clips, Bubbakoo’s Burritos, MoJoes’s Gym, Shah’s Halal and many other local businesses.”
What is an interesting personal fact that no one would know?
“I love everything about baseball and I am having the time of my life coaching little league and traveling around the state with my son, as he learns to love and play the game.”
Where do you think the market is heading? What’s one key trend you think is imporant?
The market is definitely experiencing an uptick since the beginning of June 2021. One key trend of real importance is that certain sectors, especially restaurants built for takeout and delivery, are starting to become very active. Here, many restaurants with a drive thru or a quick takeout option, proved that they not only did well through the pandemic, but many actually had their best years. I think this trend will continue and we will see more and more of these cleints looking to occupy smaller spaces built to handle this “in-transit”, quick-serve trend.
What do you think sets TRUE CRE apart from the rest?
TRUE is a boutique commercial real estate firm that knows the Connecticut and Westchester Markets in and out. At TRUE CRE, no client is too big or too small. Given our size and collaborative approach, our team services all our clients with the care and time they deserve, no matter what their needs may be. Because of this, we have very strong relationships with all the prominent landlords in Connecticut, where our reputation is second to none.
OCTOBER 13, 2022 – TRUE’s Managing Partner, Dominick Musilli, was the sole broker in the sale of a 590,000 square foot building located at 475 Elm Street in West Haven, CT. The deal was made between The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company (Seller) and Bajraktari Realty (Buyer).
Commenting on the deal, Musilli relayed that,
“I marketed this property for quite some time and it took an investor like Bajraktari Realty to roll up their sleeves and get the deal done – They were the perfect buyer. I firmly believe this property will be a very productive asset for them because Bajraktari Realty has the know-how and the resources to turn it around.”
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 – Dominick Musilli, TRUE Commercial’s Managing Partner, recently brokered a deal for TREK Bicycles to take over the 5,300 sq. ft of prime retail space in Lake Hill Shopping Center, a Trader Joe’s anchored property. TRUE represented the landlord for this transaction and JLL represented the tenant.
THE PROPERTY: 2266 BLACK ROCK TURNPIKE, FAIRFIELD, CT (SEE IMAGE)
Commenting on the deal, Musilli relayed, “This property, which formerly housed Pier One, has tremendous potential and is flanked by many great businesses, including Kindred Spirits and Wine, a deal TRUE brokers a few months ago. I think TREK will be very successful at the shopping center given the property’s location, foot traffic and easy access.”
Please contact TRUE CRE for more information of if you have similar needs where you can leverage TRUE EXPERTISE!
AUGUST 19, 2021 – The long-vacant former Debonair Beach Motel site along the shorefront in West Haven has sold for $1 million.Sim Lev Holdings, LLC of New Haven bought the property, which is at 295 Beach St.
The company was incorporated in 2014, and lists Sim Levenhartz of New Haven as its principal. The building has been empty since 2014, and it is boarded up and fenced off. Levenhartz said Tuesday he is interested in having a hotel at the site featuring luxury suites with multiple rooms. However, plans are still being finalized, according to Levenhartz, who is seeking input from city officials.
“We need to do more research and talk to the city about what they want there, then work on getting all the necessary approvals,” Levenhartz said.
Lou Proto of The Proto Group of North Haven represented the buyer, while True Commercial Real Estate represented the seller, Debonair LLC.The purchase comes on the heels of the sale of the nearby former Chick’s Drive-in, an iconic beachfront eatery that shuttered six years ago after the death of its owner.
JUNE 10, 2021 – Tyler Lyman, Listing Agent and the sole Broker, recently closed an exciting new transaction with a unique buyer who was willing to not only pay top dollar but was also interested in a quick closing.
THE PROPERTY: 1112 Farmington Ave, Farmington CT 3.58 Acres
This property is uniquely situated in the RT-4 corridor within Farmington with great visibility and redevelopment promise. The Seller had run their family business there for decades but decided they were no longer using it for its “highest and best use”. We very quickly identified a strong buyer and came to favorable terms that allowed for a quick close which was top priority for the Seller.
Please contact TRUE CRE for more information of if you have similar needs where you can leverage our TRUE EXPERTISE! Contact us at (203) 744-7777 today to learn more!
How would you describe your specialty, background and area of focus?
“I have been working in retail real estate for about 15 years, with the last 10 years focused on the Connecticut and New York markets. After attending college at Northeastern University, I began working in commercial real estate in the Boston area for the first five years of my career and then returned to Connecticut, where I grew up. Traditionally, I have been focused on retail leasing, especially tenant representation, but have been engaged much more in Landlord representation and investment sales as well.”
What is one personal fact about you that people might not know?
“I went to the final Hartford Whalers game in the Hartford Civic Center, and I also collect rare sport cards, which has been a long-term passion of mine.”
Where you think the market is heading? What’s one key trend you think is imporant?
“The commercial real estate market is definitely on an upward trajectory, as a result of our economy re-opening and many retailers are now rethinking how to compete and expand their markets. In addition, since many of people are migrating out of New York City and into the tri-state suburbs, I expect that a sizable retail “expansion” will continue to benefit from this housing boom.”
What do you think sets TRUE CRE apart from the rest?
“We have a very “team-oriented culture” at TRUE, where we actively share information internally and truly work as a team, which I have found can sometimes be rare in our industry. In the end, it may sound cliché, but we have fun at TRUE, while delivering high value to our clients. It’s all about trust and transparency, really.”