Prominent Players
UCR To Lease Mockingbird Station
United Commercial Realty (UCR), based in Dallas, Texas, has been selected by developer Ken
Hughes to handle all the retail leasing for Mockingbird Station, considered one of
Dallas’ most innovative developments. The project is located at the Dallas Area Rapid
Transit (DART) Mockingbird light-rail station.
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The 10-acre Mockingbird Station has attracted
national attention because of the significance of the site, innovative renovation of the
property, large scope of the envisioned complex, and the DART rail location, which will be
the only North Dallas station that connects with another rail line. The project is being
designed by RTKL. “Interest is high in this property because it serves one of the
highest density demographic populations in Texas,” says UCR Vice President Jack
Breard. “Mockingbird Station is also located in one of the highest disposable income
areas in the state.” According to Hughes, key national tenants will set the tone for Mockingbird Station. Virgin Entertainment Group, Inc. will occupy approximately 25,000 sq.ft. of space in what is now the parking garage of an office building. |
The Virgin location will be a new prototype store for the
company, being dubbed “the ultimate music/entertainment destination.” An
Angelika Film Center & Cafe will occupy multiple levels on the east side of the new
facility. It will include eight theaters, ranging in size from 100 to 280 seats, focusing
on independently-produced films. The Mockingbird Station facility will be the third
location for Angelika, which originated in New York City’s Soho district.
The first phase of Mockingbird Station will include approximately 200 “period”
loft industrial-style apartments being built in the 50-year-old, 180,000-sq.ft. former
Southwestern Bell equipment warehouse. The first floor of the warehouse is being renovated
into 60,000 sq.ft. of specialty retail and restaurant space. Completion is scheduled for
spring 2000. Additional land is available to develop another 150,000 sq.ft. of retail
space. UCR is in negotiations with new-concept, upscale restaurants, along with
fine-apparel, lifestyle, and entertainment-oriented tenants. The development will have 350
feet of frontage on Central Expressway and 350 feet on Mockingbird Lane.
For leasing information, contact Jack Breard or Robert Luleff, United Commercial Realty,
214-526-6262.
Deli Unique Coming to MotorCity
Detroit’s MotorCity Casino has entered into a licensing agreement with Matt Prentice
and the Bingham Farms, Michigan-based Unique Restaurant Corporation to license the
“Deli Unique” name and receive consultation on design, menu selection, and
restaurant operation.
“We are creating a New York deli concept teeming with fun, flare and a little New
York swagger,” says Prentice, who is president of Unique Restaurant. “Deli
barkers will ‘holler’ out orders and the sandwiches will be larger than
life— deli size. The dining room’s design is upscale and very
contemporary.”
| MotorCity Casino is a $1.5-million temporary entertainment and gaming property that will cover approximately 12 acres in and around the former Wonder Bread Bakery at Grand River Avenue and the Lodge Freeway in Detroit. Owned by Detroit Entertainment, LLC, a joint venture of Detroit-based Atwater Casino Group and Las Vegas-based Mandalay Resort Group, the four-story casino will have two main floors of gaming as well as a third floor non-smoking gaming area and a fourth-floor high-limit area. Two live entertainment venues, four restaurants and parking for 3,500 automobiles will round out the MotorCity lineup. Details on the other three restaurants have not yet been released. |  |
MotorCity’s Deli Unique will be a 2,500-sq.ft., 24-hour,
7-day restaurant with seating for approximately 150 patrons. The eatery will be located in
a former Continental Bakery building attached to the main gaming building by two skywalks
on the MotorCity Casino campus. Adjacent attached parking will ensure easy access for
casino guests as well as destination diners.
For more information: Matt Prentice, President, Unique Restaurant Corporation,
248-646-0370; Jack C. Barthwell, III, MotorCity Casino, 313-237-7717.