A Greensboro, N.C., high-end grocery chain has become the first tenant to sign on at the Glenstone Marketplace retail center under development in south Springfield.
Commercial real estate broker Brad Thessing, who along with Kevin Guffey of central Missouri-based American Realty & Development purchased the former Howard Johnson hotel site in May for an undisclosed price from Jim D. Morris, said The Fresh Market Inc. (Nasdaq: TFM) plans to open its first Springfield store next fall.
Thessing said The Fresh Market would occupy 21,000 square feet at the 100,000-square-foot Glenstone Marketplace LLC, 3333 S. Glenstone Ave. He declined to disclose lease terms.
The Fresh Market operates 176 stores in 27 states. According to a news release the Springfield store would be the company’s third in Missouri. Fresh Market stores place a focus on high-quality products, including fresh perishables, according to its
website.
Thessing said The Fresh Market is one of around five new-to-market tenants in the late stages of contract negotiation for Glenstone Marketplace. Noting other contracts haven’t been finalized, he declined to name the other potential tenants but said announcements could come within the next couple weeks.
At Glenstone Marketplace, roughly 80 percent of the demolition work is complete. Thessing said American Realty & Development would serve as general contractor for the project slated to open next fall.