Marc Yavinsky, VP and branch manager of the Boca Raton loanorigination office of GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp., arranged therefinancing through TIAA-CREF. The lender "offered the borrowerflexibility in the loan structure and worked closely with Menin toclose the loan prior to all of the tenants taking occupancy," hesays.

In January 2005, Robert Jacoby, Menin's VP and COO, toldGlobeSt.com, GSR's sister website, that the center would be leasedat the opening, and "we may hold back some space in order to obtainthe right mix." He described that as "an appropriate mix ofnationally known restaurants and specialty retailers unique to thisarea." Tenants began moving in last November.

"I feel this property fills a tremendous void in the localretail market," Yavinsky says. "What is so unique about thisopen-air shopping center is that a majority of the tenants aresetting up shop for the very first time in Florida, and (thecenter) is not saturated with common anchors and tenants, butrather specialty shops and restaurants."