Publix Buys 5 Acres in Pinecrest

MIAMI-ESF Holdings has sold a plot of land at 13401 S. Dixie Highway in Pinecrest to Publix Supermarkets. The 4.93-acre property is the former site of a Hallett Pontiac car dealership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Michael T. Fay, president and founding partner of Colliers International South Florida, was the sole broker in the transaction. Brandon Partners represented Publix. Orlando-based Brandon Partners offers construction management, property management, property leasing and development and is familiar with the Publix prototypes.

“Due to the strain on the retail industry, the crisis in the automotive industry, as well as the economic recession, this deal had many starts and stops,” says Fay. “I'm very happy to see this transaction closed not only because it's another significant transaction for our Colliers Automotive Real Estate Services Group, but also because of my long involvement with both families.”

Anthony Blanco, managing partner at Plaza Advisors, was also glad to see the former auto dealership site sell. As he sees it, 13401 S. Dixie Highway is a strategically located site that has been vacant for far too long. Blanco notes that Brandon Partners has been one of the most active developers of Publix stores in Miami Dade County over the last several years and says the company builds very good properties throughout the state.

“The site makes a great deal of sense for a new Publix store, given the age of their nearest stores at Briar Bay Shopping Center and at US 1 and 146th street,” Blanco tells GlobeSt.com. “Both of those existing stores are bustling with customer traffic, so this new store should be very well received in the trade area.”