CHICAGO-Chicago-based MB Real Estate has taken over management, leasing and sales for 55 West Wacker, The LaSalle Wacker and 205 West Wacker on Chicago’s downtown riverfront. Previously, Cape Horn Group had overseen asset management of the buildings, while Lincoln Property Co. handled property management, leasing and sales.

Recently updated, 55 West Wacker is a 15-story, 209,000-square-foot property with column-free, 14,250-square-foot floor plates, a full-service health club, bank and indoor heated parking. The LaSalle Wacker, a 41-story, 414,000-square-foot tower at 121 W. Wacker Dr., combines art deco design with recent capital improvements and amenities including the Sidebar Grille, a building concierge, fitness center and parking garage with car wash. Also, 205 West Wacker, designed by Burnham Brothers, is a 25-story, 263,650-square-foot rental office building with a 60-car indoor valet parking garage, street-level bank, convenience store and Allstar Sports Bar & Grill.

CHICAGO-The Chicago office of Transwestern recently represented Nick's Fishmarket in a 7,710-square-foot lease on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart. The restaurant will take the former bluprint space located at the North entrance of the building. Nick’s Fishmarket will soon have a downtown presence again after its original location on Clark Street closed in October 2009. The grand opening is scheduled for late September 2010. Irv Gilner and Rob Marquardt represented Nick’s Fishmarket in the transaction. Megan Giroux and David Stone with Stone Real Estate represented the landlord.

CHICAGO-Sue Blumberg, SVP and senior director of NorthMarq Capital’s Chicago Regional office, arranged fixed-rate financing of $28.9 million for Pensacola Place at 4334 N. Hazel. The asset is a mixed-use property containing 79,000 square feet of commercial space and 264 renovated multifamily units with spectacular views. Major commercial tenants include Jewel-Osco grocery store and World Gym. Financing was based on a seven-year term with a 30-year amortization schedule and was arranged for the borrower, Pensacola Apartments LLC, by NorthMarq through its seller-servicer relationship with Freddie Mac.

CHICAGO-Thompson Flannagan & Co. LLC, an insurance consulting and information services firm, has signed a lease for 9,500 square feet at 626 W. Jackson Blvd. in downtown. The deal boosts the occupancy level to 88% at the West Loop office building which launched a re-tenanting campaign in 2008 following its acquisition and extensive renovation by Chicago-based Sterling Bay Cos. in partnership with the Deitcher Group. The eight-story, 107,977-square-foot property was the former headquarters of the Chicago Housing Authority, the sole occupant prior to its relocation to another downtown site in 2007. In a modest expansion, Thompson will relocate its office to 626 W. Jackson during third quarter 2010 from its current location at 150 N. Wacker Dr. Tony Karmin with Transwestern represented the firm in the long-term lease transaction.

CHICAGO-Anna's Linens recently signed a lease for 9,991 square feet at Gateway Centre in the Rogers Park neighborhood in downtown Chicago, according to Richard Spinell, principal of Oakbrook Terrace-based Mid-America Asset Management Inc. The Costa Mesa, CA-based store is expected to open here in October 2010. Spinell, along with Mary Beth Menelli represented the landlord, RREEF Atlanta, in the

 transaction, with Al Rodenbostel of Edgemark Real Estate and Tyson Fraser of Icon Real Estate & Management representing the tenant. Privately held Anna's Linens, a value retailer of fashions for the home, currently operates more than 265 stores in 18 states and the District of Columbia, with five listed in Chicago. Gateway Centre is a 193,000-square-foot shopping center located at the southeast corner of Howard and Clark Streets in Chicago. Dominick's, Marshalls and Bally Fitness anchor the center.

OAK LAWN, IL-CB Richard Ellis’ Private Client Group represented developer MedProperties of Chicago in the sale of a 100% leased Class A medical office building to a private equity partnership which includes Chicago-based Stage Equity Partners LLC. The property is at 10837 S. Cicero Avenue. CBRE’s Tom Rusthoven, Ted Buenger and Gary Fazzio negotiated on behalf of the seller. Known as the Oak Lawn Medical Center, the building is a new, Class A, 26,324-square-foot medical office building located approximately one mile from Advocate Christ Hospital, the fourth largest hospital in Illinois. The anchor tenant within the building is MidAmerica Cardiovascular Consultants. The property sold for $331 per rentable square foot. Working on behalf of Stage Equity Partners, LLC, HFF directors Matthew Schoenfeldt and Daniel Kaufman placed a seven-year, 5.89% fixed-rate loan with Wells Fargo Real Estate Group Inc. Loan proceeds were used to acquire the property. Stage Equity Partners is a Chicago-based, privately-held real estate investment company that specializes in healthcare real estate.

ORLAND PARK, IL-Grubb & Ellis Co. has announced that the ground lease interest of 15630 S. Harlem Ave. was sold to Acorn LLC at a 6.5% cap rate. Peter Block and Anne Arnold represented the seller, 15690 S. Harlem LLC. Chase Bank occupies the site’s 4,300-square-foot retail building on a 30-year primary term with escalations every five years and three 10-year options.

MINNEAPOLIS-Alatus LLC, a Minneapolis-based commercial real estate development/acquisition firm, has completed the acquisition of the Block E entertainment complex on Hennepin and First avenues between Sixth and Seventh streets in downtown. Bob Lux, principal at Alatus, said the firm is looking forward to creating a property that complements this Minneapolis neighborhood. In April 2010, Alatus signed a purchase agreement for the property, which is in the heart of Minneapolis’ shopping, theater and business districts; across from Target Center; and two blocks from Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.  “Through the end of this year, we are going to study other successful urban retail properties around the country, which will help us further identify leading destination-oriented tenants that can help make this property a community asset,” said Alatus Principal Phillip Jaffe. “While we’ve already had significant tenant inquiries, we want to be measured in our approach to Block E; we are not interested in simply filling space.” Immediately, Alatus will begin improving Block E’s parking ramp. Updates include increased lighting in the parking levels and additional wayfinding signage. The team will also renovate lobby areas for a safer, more customer-friendly experience. Block E includes 213,000 square feet of space on three levels as well as 550 underground parking spaces.

MEQUON, WI-Hilco Real Estate and its partner on this transaction, the NNN Pro Group, a division of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, recently closed the sale of 71 Bulk Petroleum gas stations. Located in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri, the properties represent a majority of the assets owned by Mequon, Wisconsin-based Bulk Petroleum Corp. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2009. The majority of the properties were sold in a portfolio purchase of 63 assets, which was approved by the US Bankruptcy Court on May 7. The transaction closed in mid-June. The other eight locations were sold as individual, one-off sales. A total of 53 other locations, comprised of operating stations, closed stations, and land sites, remain available for purchase. “We are pleased with the results of sales to date and expect to find buyers for the remaining 53 assets very soon,” said Neil Aaronson, CEO of Hilco.

ST. LOUIS-Cassidy Turley announced today that Memphis-based AutoZone has extended its service agreement with Cassidy Turley Corporate Services. “Cassidy Turley will continue to assist AutoZone in maintaining and growing its business throughout the United States, while focusing on the long-term success of this very important client,” said Rich Etzkorn at Cassidy Turley. ”We look forward to continuing to provide services to AutoZone including management of the company’s lease renewals.”

AutoZone is a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories with more than 4,500 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

MILWAUKEE-Tishman Speyer announced today that Associated Bank has signed a lease agreement that will expand and extend the bank’s presence at the Plaza East office complex in downtown Milwaukee. The bank is renewing its existing 23,000-square-foot lease that was scheduled to expire in 2014, converting 18,000 square feet from sublease to direct lease, and taking 17,000 square feet of additional space at the property. The new combined 58,000-square-foot-lease will expire in 2022. Plaza East consists of two 14-story office towers totaling 474,000 square feet in Milwaukee’s downtown financial district. The property is well-located within walking distance of Lake Michigan, and is close to regional transportation hubs, several high-end hotels, a performing arts centre, and other nearby amenities and attractions. The buildings were constructed in 1982 and 1984 and were designed by architect Helmut Jahn. The property is managed by Tishman Speyer on behalf of the Australia-based Tishman Speyer Office Fund.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI-Baked goods vendor Rolf’s Patisserie has purchased a 56,642-square-foot facility at 10100 88th Ave. This acquisition marks an expansion for the bakery which also has a location at 4343 W. Touhy Ave. in Lincolnwood. The buyer selected the property based on its easy expressway access, expansion space availability, cost-effective tax rates, and the Wisconsin state incentives applicable to the transaction. Theresa Gleason with Paine/Wetzel ONCOR International represented Rolf’s Patisserie while Ryan Bain, Jack Graham, Brett Krouer and Keith Puritz with CB Richard Ellis represented the seller, Wrightwood Capital.