The company, which was once the American Radio Co. and nowdevelops a line of outdoor products for the home, took a 10-yearlease on space in the Townline Plaza, a 135,000-sf shopping centerthat was once home to Caldor's and Star Market. Caldor's went outof business two years ago and Star Market closed its doors at thecenter as well. "It was kind of dead for retail," Phillip Burgess,president of locally based Burgess Properties, tells GlobeSt.com.Burgess represented Maldex LP, an affiliate of S.R. Weiner &Associates in the deal.

Bally's Fitness recently took the 25,000 sf of space vacated byStar Market, and Child Development Centers leased the 10,000 sfthat had been taken by Fleet Bank and a liquor store which leftS.R. Weiner & Associates Inc., the owner of the property, withanother 78,000-sf of space to fill. The state took 22,000 sf forthe Massachusetts Commission for the Blind but Burgess says thatthe balance of the space could have gone either for office orindustrial use. "People looked at it for use as office space," henotes.

Burgess notes that industrial space this close to thecity--Malden is about seven miles north of Boston--is hard to get.While the office market in the area continues to struggle with highvacancy rates and dropping rents, the industrial market, saysBurgess, "is excellent."