Advance, a rapidly expanding retailer of automotive parts, has 2,553 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It expects this center to be operational in spring 2005, creating 500 jobs in the Lehigh Valley.

Bethlehem, PA-based Garibaldi Group, a member of Corfac International, represented Arcadia in the transaction. The Garibaldi marketing team included Jeffrey J. Garibaldi, president; Michael Bertolacci, VP; Gerald E. Moore Jr., managing director of financial services, and Gerald A. Bower, VP of capital markets.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. and Gov. Ed Rendell's Action Team were instrumental in bringing the company here, according to Larry Castellani, Advance's chairman and CEO. Without disclosing the value of the incentive package, Castellani says, "We are especially appreciative of the assistance from the state of Pennsylvania and the community of the Lehigh Valley for their participation in this project." The terms of the sale are undisclosed.

A JV between Arcadia and Parsippany, NJ-based Prudential Real Estate Investor, the real estate and investment arm of Prudential Financial Inc., previously owned the property. It is located in the 250-acre Arcadia West Industrial Park, which has business and industrial zoning and offers easy access to I 75, I 81 and Rte 80. Other tenants in the park include Batesville Casket, Kenco, Suntuf 2000, and MetLife.