MIAMI—Shopping centers are hot commodities inSouth Florida from a acquisition, leasing and lending perspective.Three retail complexes in the region just won $27million in permanent financing.

Aztec Group managing directors JasonShapiro and Jim Fried and directorSean Harrington secured the financing for theborrowers, a locally-owned retail investmentgroup. The shopping centers include a property inHialeah Gardens, the redevelopment of the former Hollywood FashionMall in Hollywood to be anchored by a Walmart Supercenter, and aTamarac shopping center that will soon house a new WalmartNeighborhood Market.

Royal Gardens Plaza, a recently-completed 75,000-square-footshopping center anchored by Aldi and A Ross Dressfor Less store secured the largest loan at $12 million. Theshopping center is located at the southeast cornerof Hialeah Gardens Boulevard and West 80th Street and also includesDollar General, Discovery Clothing, America's Best Contacts &Eyeglasses, and Pollo Tropical.