Berman, who is based at the Coldwell Banker Commercial Westmac office in West Los Angeles, tells GlobeSt.com that the transaction involved a three-way negotiation among the bakery, building owner Prudential Insurance Co. of America and Munchkin Inc., a tenant in the space that the bakery wanted to lease.

Berman, who represented La Brea bakery, explains the lease will put the bakery into the entire 130,000-sf building at 15963 Strathern St. The bakery currently leases 65,000 sf of the building and Munchkin, a manufacturer of baby-care products, occupies the other half in a lease good through February 2004. To get the entire building, La Brea bought out Munchkin's extension option. La Brea expects to move into the remainder of the building May 1, 2004.

Berman, who negotiated La Brea Bakery's original lease at the Strathern Street location five years ago, says the bakery wanted very much to remain in its existing building rather than expand elsewhere. La Brea's lease was due to expire this summer. The building owner, Prudential, was represented by its on-site leasing agent, Unire Real Estate.

La Brea specializes in artisan breads, comparable to traditional European breads. It distributes products nationwide to restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and other customers. The product line includes partially baked and specialty loaves like roasted garlic, sourdough baguette and chocolate sour cherry.