Congratulations to the 2010 Downtown Impact Award Winners!

Congratulations to Nebraska Rural Electric Association, WRK LLC, Monte Froehlich, Lincoln is a Music City, Tafe and Davide Bergo, Mayor Chris Beutler and Dick Campbell on their Downtown Impact Awards today!

Check out the DLA website for video interviews and photos!

Friday's Featured Listing - Retail Location Along P Street Corridor

Great retail location on P Street Retail Corridor for lease!  886 square feet next to Footloose & Fancy and Starbucks at 12th & P Street.  Traffic generators include Lincoln Grand Theaters, Lied Center, Wells Fargo Center, and its close proximity to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. 

To view the listing click here or contact Tom Graf or Richard Meginnis at 402-441-5800 for a tour.

Retail Split Widens Between Luxury, Value

GlobeSt.com's article "Retail Split Widens Between Luxury, Value" stated the biggest trend for retailers now is shoppers are choosing either luxury or value type stores leaving the middle-level retailers in the dust.  One such mid-level retailer, Talbot's, recently announced that it will be closing approximately 100 stores and launching an outlet format to combat this trend. 

Another trend noted in the article is that fast-food restaurants are doing better than mid-level sit-down restaurants - a trend we noted in an earlier post.  That statement is particularly evident in the Lincoln market with the success and expansion of many fast-food restaurants such as Jimmy John's, Mr. Goodcents, Qdoba, to name a few. 

To read the full article, click here.

Planning Commission OKs proposal for CVS at 27th and Old Cheney

Despite some opposition to the proposal for a development that includes a new CVS Pharmacy on the NWC of 27th & Old Cheney, the Planning Commission approved the zoning change from office to retail oriented. The zoning changes allows Assurity Life Insurance Co. to tear down the office building on the corner to make room for a 13,300-square-foot CVS and an attached 8,500-square-foot retail building.  An 11,700-square-foot retail and office combo building would be built later with an 8,700-square-foot office building being the final piece.

The proposal will now go in front of the City Council in 2 1/2 weeks.  To read the full Journal Star article, click here.

Lincoln #3 on the list of perfect spots for young families

Parents magazine ranked Lincoln #3 on the list of best cities to raise a family.  Scottsdale, AZ and Fort Wayne, IN came first and second respectively.  Some of the factors they considered were affordable housing, safety, good neighbors, access to pediatricians and parks. 

To read the full article, click here.  (Source:  journalstar.com and Parents Magazine)

Obama Signs $30B Small Business Loan Law

President Obama signed into law a $30 billion loan find for small business. The law also provides $12 billion in tax breaks and tries to improve existing loans to small businesses that are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

According to a Realtor.org article "The $30B Small Business Loan Law in Perspective : Speaking of Real Estate", one concern that National Association of Realtors members have voiced, is that local community banks are not participating in the SBA loan program.  In Lincoln, however, we have been approached by a number of local area banks who are ready to help small businesses get the financing they need.  So we would encourage any small business looking to expand or buy a building, to look into the SBA program.

To read the full Realtor.org article, click here.

Target Renovates Distribution Centers and Opens New Stores

Though it is not expanding at the pace it has in recent years, mega retailer Target is still very active by opening 10 new stores in 2010 and renovating their 9 distribution centers across the U.S.  To read the full article, click here.  (Source: rebusinessonline.com)