In its latest round of buys, Cole has bought properties leasedto CVS/Caremark Corp., Walgreen Co., Staples Inc., Academy Sports& Outdoors Ltd., Eckerd Corp. and Taco Bell Corp. Theproperties are in primary and secondary markets in Alabama,Missouri, Texas, Indiana and Kentucky. The buys ranged from acollection of 13,905-sf Walgreen Co. stores in Kansas City, MO to a706,560-sf building in Groveland, FL that's leased to Circuit CityStores Inc.

Cole recently paid $89 million to FORT Properties Inc. of LosAngeles for a portfolio of single-tenant retail assets. Thatacquisition is indicative of the company's typical buys says ChrisRobertson, the buyer's senior vice president of acquisitions. "I'dsay over the past six months, we've done more portfolio thanone-off deals," he explains. "As our size and capabilities grow,we're doing more of these larger deals." FORT's multi-stateportfolio had long-term tenants like Lowe's Companies Inc. andKohl's Corp.

Robertson tells GlobeSt.com that Cole is planning to spend $180million this month, allowing it to reach the $1-billion goal fivemonths earlier than anticipated. But, he predicts another $500million of assets could be acquired by year's end.