Corey Bialow, director of real estate and construction for the Vitamin Shoppe, tells GlobeSt.com that the company has already signed 10 leases for Southern California stores and is projecting that it will sign another 30 within the next two years in Southern California. Bialow says the North Bergen, N.J.-based retailer also will open about 20 stores in Northern California during the same time.

Each shop averages about 4,000 sf, Bialow says, and most leases are for 10 years with two or three five-year options. At the Aliso Viejo location, Vic Montalbo of Epsteen & Associates, the exclusive agent for the Vitamin Shoppe in the Los Angeles area, represented the retailer. Walter Pagel of the Grubb & Ellis Co.'s Newport Beach office represented the owner of the shopping center, M&Z Valley Associates of Beverly Hills, CA.

The Aliso Viejo Vitamin Shoppe is a 3,500-sf store at 26831 Aliso Creek Rd. at one of the main entrances to Aliso Viejo Town Center, which includes Aaron Brothers, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Chili's, Edwards Theater, Macaroni Grill, Pier I Imports, PetsMart and Staples. Terms of the Aliso Viejo deal were not disclosed, but asking rates for comparable space run approximately $3 per sf to $3.25 per sf per month, triple net.

The Vitamin Shoppe chain has more than 130 stores nationwide and describes itself as one of the largest specialty retailers of its kind in the country. Founded in 1977, the company carries brand-name vitamins, nutrition supplements, publications and other health- and nutrition-related products.

California is one of several West Coast markets where the company plans to expand. Bialow says stores are planned for Arizona, Colorado and Washington state in 2004.