FORT, LAUDERDALE, FL-Monkey Joe’s, a retailer specializing in interactive, indoor children’s parties and activities, signed a seven-year, 14,014-square foot lease at the Shoppes of Logger’s Run in southwest Boca Raton. The Georgia-based retailer, which moved into the space last Friday, is now the anchor tenant for the 107,895-square-foot-shopping center, which is 74% leased.

Monkey Joe’s is filling the former Gold’s Gym space, although the gym, which moved in July of 2007, occupied 36,385 square feet. In August 2009, Tuesday Morning, which occupies 7,500-square feet, moved into part of the space formerly occupied by the gym.

The Shoppes of Logger’s Run was built in 1988 and renovated in 2001. It is two and a half miles west of State Road State Road 7. Loggers Run itself is a planned unit development built from the late 1980s through 2000.

The area is family-oriented, says Lisa Ferrazza, senior associate with CB Richard Ellis’s Boca Raton office, which is why she thinks that Monkey Joe’s will do well at the site. The Shoppes of Logger’s Run has a low occupancy rate because it is off the beaten track, says Ferrazza. While Monkey Joe’s signed the lease at The Shoppes of Logger’s Run on February 5th, she says that CB Richard Ellis is only now making the announcement, because even when a lease is signed, the tenant may not actually move in.

“Typically, landlords are hesitant to do a long-term lease," says Ferrazza."We went back and forth between five and ten years and finally settled on seven,” she says. The landlord, GPH Holdings, didn’t balk at a long term lease, even though, in a few years, the rental rate may be below market, says Ferrazza. “They were motivated to get a tenant in there." CB Richard Ellis took over the leasing of the Shoppes of Logger’s Run on July 20, 2009.

Monkey Joe’s features indoor play equipment, such as wall-to-wall inflatable slides, obstacle courses and huge rubber balls. It also has WiFi and computer screens for the adults. Casual food, such as pizza and ice cream, are also served at Monkey Joe’s. “It is a children’s paradise,” says Ferrazza.