Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/704472
32 S C T / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 S T O R E F R O N T S In today's mobile world, batteries are more important than ever. Accordingly, the fast-growing Batteries Plus Bulbs chain is adding 50 new stores this year to the 675 it already operates nation- wide, from Alabama to Wyoming. This Hartland, Wis.–based provider of bat- teries and lightbulbs and of smartphone and tablet repair services seeks high-visi- bility locations with lots of foot traffic. Local business accounts make up nearly a third of the chain's sales, how- ever, and such business customers tend to view a trip to an enclosed shopping mall as too time-consuming, according to Steve Huss, who opened a Batteries Plus franchise store in Portland, Maine, in April. Consequently, he says, the company looks for open-air plazas. As it happens, the Huss franchise store is located at a suburban shopping plaza adjacent to a Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts store and a RadioShack. This is typical for the chain, says Rod Tremel- ling, the company's director of franchise development, because such stores are good generators of traffic and referrals. Batteries Plus Bulbs opened its first store in Green Bay, Wis., in 1988, when it was initially called Batteries Plus. Pri- marily, it provided batteries and accesso- ries for automobiles. The company added stores and expanded its product line as demand for specialty batteries picked up. Today, in the aggregate, U.S. households own some 3.2 billion devices requiring batteries, according to company data. After Congress passed a law in 2007 phasing out incandescent bulbs, the chain began offering alternatives and six years later renamed itself Batteries Plus Bulbs. Then the stores began of- fering repair services for tablets, cell phones and other mobile devices. Batteries Plus Bulbs, owned by Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has a strong pres- ence in the Midwest and is now target- ing the Northeast and California for growth, according to Tremelling. Huss is optimistic about the fu- ture because consumers are seeking the sort of expertise a specialty store can offer. "Light bulbs and batteries used to be very simple," he said. "But not anymore." S C T Milbrook Properties has been providing space to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of retail tenants for over 80 years. Continuously adding to our portfolio from New York to Florida, retailers in the market for space don't need to shop anywhere else. Contact us today to findout about the exciting leasing opportunities we have in store for you. Our Tenants Keep Adding Up, So We Keep Adding On. Charles Hirsch | chirsch@milbrookproperties.com Tom LiPuma | tjlipuma@milbrookproperties.com Pascal Spagna | pspagna@milbrookproperties.com Rubin Pikus | rpikus@milbrookproperties.com 42 Bayview Avenue | Manhasset, NY 11030 T 516.869.1240 F 516.869.8576 www.milbrookproperties.com Contact us today to set up an appointment to meet with our leasing representative at the Florida Conference. NEW YORK Adams Commerce Plaza Hauppauge | 29,412 SF Baldwin Square Baldwin | 77,804 SF Bay Shore Commons Bay Shore | 109,295 SF Bethpage Plaza Bethpage | 73,500 SF Bi-County Commons East Farmingdale | 69,947 SF Bohemia Commons Bohemia | 78,100 SF Burnside Avenue Bronx | 16,904 SF Cherry Valley Plaza West Hempstead | 34,800 SF Huntington Crossroads Huntington Station | 13,863 SF Huntington Shoppes Huntington Station | 16,819 SF Kenmore Plaza Sea ford | 22,086 SF Lake Shore Plaza Lake Ronkonkoma | 99,565 SF Main Street Promenade Nyack | 29,090 SF Spring Valley Marketplace Spring Valley | 324,818 SF The Shoppes at Market Street Nanuet | 70,432 SF Waverly Plaza Holtsville | 10,750 SF NYC Various opportunities in all boroughs NEW JERSEY Aviation Plaza Linden | 644,565 SF Edison Plaza Edison | 103,996 SF Princeton Meadows Plainsboro | 66,000 SF Royal Plaza East Windsor | 24, 750 SF FLORIDA Flamingo Market Place Pembroke Pines | 140,046 SF FMS Corners Pembroke Pines | 37,644 SF Hollywood Palms Hollywood | 214,902 SF Point Plaza Temple Terrace | 97,087 SF Shoppes at Margate Margate | 57,758 SF Shoppes at Pembroke Pembroke Pines | 81,296 SF BATTERY CHAIN CHARGED UP OFFICE SUPPLIES By Tom Bell