H&H Wine Brokerage moved their business to 2,200 square feet of office space at Tannery Row, 101 South Coombs. Their company brings together qualified buyers and sellers of grapes, bulk wine, and cased goods.

An interior design firm, Barbara Colvin & Company, recently signed a lease for industrial space at Sawyer Tannery, 68 Coombs Street.

Platypus Tours also leased storage space for their vehicles last month at the same location.

Named after the river bend and the former leather tannery, the Tannery Bend area is now a mixed-use community with light industrial and related retail, office, and artist loft uses.

For more information on the tannery properties, contact the brokers at Strong & Hayden at 707-226-2661 or visit www.stronghayden.com.

For property inquiries, call 707-226-2661 or email Matt Connolly.

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After years of delay, Century Theatres has signed a lease to open a 12-screen multiplex theater in south Napa.

“We’re taking the entertainment experience to the next level,” Cinemark’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications James Meredith said Wednesday.

The new Century Napa complex, to be located behind South Napa Marketplace, will replace the Century Cinedome 8 located on Pearl Street. The new theater is scheduled to open in spring 2012.

On Wednesday, the Gasser Foundation announced the lease with Cinemark Holdings, Inc., parent company of Century Theatres.

“The theater in Napa will be one of the most cutting-edge movie theaters available in the region,” Meredith said. “It will have the latest technology.”

The Century Napa theater will feature Cinemark’s new theater design concept, 12 auditoriums, wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor screens, digital projection, ‘surround-sound,’ 3D capability, online ticketing, self-serve concessions and 2,065 stadium-style seats.

By comparison, the Cinedome 8 in Napa has 1,411 seats. The new theater will also incorporate green features such as large cisterns to collect rainwater and solar panels.

At the new theater, “There’s not a bad seat in the house,” Meredith said. “What you have is a brand new theater with latest and greatest technology,” he said. “It’s all digital and crystal clear. No more 35 mm projectors.”


After years of moviegoers traveling to Vallejo or Fairfield for bigger and better screens, “There will be no need to go anywhere else,” Meredith said. Visitors may come to Napa to see movies, he said.

A number of hurdles had to be overcome to sign the deal, said Joe Fischer, a consultant working with the Gasser Foundation, said.

The Gasser Foundation, which owns the land where the new theater will be built, has been working with Century for the past six years, Fischer said. However, the banking crisis made financing the theater “a near impossibility,” he said.

In addition, the south Napa land was previously designated a floodway. But with newly re-drawn Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps, the theater building is no longer within the floodway, Fischer said.

Gasser dubbed the 15-acre future home of the theater “South River Place.” The theater building will occupy 41,700 square feet or nearly an acre, with more than 900 parking spaces.

An additional 20,000 square feet of retail should follow, Fischer said. Development plans include several retail buildings, including three on land owned by the Napa Sanitation District. Gasser is negotiating to buy this property.

Design plans for the theater will be submitted to the city this month, Meredith said.

Potential retail tenants include banking, a restaurant, coffee shop or consumer electronics, Fischer said.

“The idea is to have some space for those users that traditionally cluster around the theater (and) space for primarily national retailers that Napans right now have to drive out of town to patronize,” said Jim Henry, broker for the Gasser Foundation.

But the theater comes first. “Our focus today is to get the theater open as soon as we can,” Fischer said.

The Gasser Foundation and Century Theatres had originally proposed a 2,500-seat theater west of Gasser Drive, behind Target, with its back to Imola Avenue.

To reduce the need for parking, the theater has since been scaled back to 2,065 seats, and moved so the back of the theater faces Hartle Court and the south Napa homeless shelter.

Additional Gasser development is tentatively planned for north of South River Place. Named “Tulocay Square” and “Tulocay Village,” the project could include up to 100,000 square feet of retail and 500 residential units. In time, Silverado Trail would be re-routed across Soscol Avenue to connect to Gasser Drive, officials said.

Cinemark operates 428 theaters with 4,938 screens in 39 states, one Canadian province, Brazil, Mexico and 11 other Latin American countries, according to a news release.

Read this story online at Napa Register

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A new Silverado Trail/Hwy 121 extension will connect both projects, improving one of the main arterial byways through the Napa Valley.

All buildings will be built with the best practices in environmentally friendly design, part of the Gasser Foundation’s “Sustainable Napa County” initiative. The buildings will utilize solar panels and large cisterns to collect rainwater and minimize water use. New streets and intersections and an extensive network of walking and bike paths allow for easy access throughout the region.

The Gasser Foundation was established in 1982 as a charitable entity to benefit the Napa community. Its mission is to serve Napa today and in the future with a focus on health care, education, the environment, and the people & community of Napa.

Peter Gasser and his wife Vernice “Pat” Gasser were a major force for change when Napa was mostly ranch and farm land, with business and civic projects to improve the City. The Gassers purchased land for development projects in the Napa Valley during the 1960s, including the 145 acre site along the Napa River in South Napa. Pete envisioned the area along the Soscol corridor as a convenient shopping area for the growing city, and now that dream has become a reality.

The two developments are part of the Gasser Master Plan, which was finalized in 2005. The 145 acre site is one of the few undeveloped land tracts in the City of Napa. Completed projects on property include a Fire Station for the City of Napa, the South Napa Homeless Shelter and 24 units of supportive (2 of 2) housing. There is a strong retail tenant mix in the area, including the existing South Napa Marketplace Center (Target, Home Depot, Raley’s), Soscol Auto Row and Downtown Napa retail, restaurants, and offices.

Gasser Foundation President Joe Peatman and the Foundation’s Board of Directors continue to donate a percentage of its assets to nonprofit organizations, currently between $1.5 and $2.0 million annually. Donations go to local hospitals, hospices, education, homeless shelters, and cultural organizations and they have a work force training initiative operating in conjunction with the local community college.

Napa is one of the world’s premier tourist destinations, with 4.5 Million visitors annually and approximately $63 million spent on retail purchases, excluding wine. The population within 10 miles is 146,000 with an average household income of $91,900.

We have opportunities for selected tenants to become a part of the Gasser Foundation’s premier development for the Napa community. For leasing information on Napa Tulocay Square or the Napa River Place, visit www.stronghayden.com, contact Matt Connolly or Gary Van Dam at 707-226-2661, or email: mconnolly@stronghayden.com or gvd100@aol.com.

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Nakamura has operated Fujiya Restaurant at Napa Premium Outlets for the past 24 years. He will oversee the new restaurant operation. When Eiko’s opens in mid-March, Fujiya will close, the partners said.

Crews are currently doing demolition, preparing for a complete remodel of the 4,588-square-foot space, according to Matt Connolly with Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate, which brokered the deal.

The restaurant will seat around 100 people, with additional seating outside, the owners said.

Rick Zazlove and his brother said they are venturing into the restaurant industry for the first time. “My brother and I have been eating at Fujiya and have really enjoyed their food,” he said. “All they are doing is moving their facility to a new downtown location. The clientele they need to reach is downtown and not at the outlets, which close by 8 p.m. This is something for locals and tourists.”

He described the menu as being medium priced. The eatery will have a full bar and lounge.

Shopworks, the design firm, will bring a “warm feeling to the dining space,” Rick Zazlove said. “I think Napa is on the upswing, and as Napa matures into the new Napa now is the time. If you wait it will be too late to afford,” Zazlove said. “The location is ideal and I think Napa is looking for something like this. This is something would more likely expect to see in San Francisco.”

Connolly said George Altamura, the owner of Napa Town Center, was looking for a quality restaurant group to help anchor the west end of the street. Eiko’s will be “a nice addition to the Napa Town Center,” he said.

Piccolino’s closed in September, 2009 after 13 years of operation. Piccolino’s owners said the ailing economy and construction at their end of First Street had cost them customers.

Plans for the interior and exterior design of Eiko’s are scheduled to come before the Planning Commission Thursday night, the owners said.

Eiko’s will be joining a cluster of new restaurants at west end of downtown. Within the past year, the west end of First Street has become home to Norman Rose Tavern and Oenotri. Also joining the west end roster of new eateries are Grace’s Table on Second Street and Mini Mango Thai Bistro on Clay Street.

For more information about the restaurant, call Matt Connolly at 707-226-2661 X 201 or visit www.stronghayden.com.

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The property, formerly known as Larry’s Truck Topper, consists of 6,500 square feet of showroom and warehouse space.

The buyer owns a window company called R & S Glazing.

The seller was represented by Gary Van Dam, Jim Henry, and Michael Holcomb of Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate. The buyer was represented by Cyndi Gates of Gates Estates.

For more information about commercial properties in Napa County, call Strong & Hayden at 707-226-2661 or visit stronghayden.com.

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1427 Jefferson Street is a vintage 1905 Craftsman recently renovated to current building codes and a turn-key interior.

Michael Holcomb of Strong and Hayden Commercial Real Estate represented the seller and is the lease listing agent for the executive suites. Dick Wood of Vineyard Estate Properties represented the buyer of the property.

The new owner is occupying a portion of the building. The remainder of the building consists of fully furnished executive suites with shared conference room, kitchenette, and restrooms, and is available for lease.

For more information about the executive suites, call Michael Holcomb at 707-226-2661 or visit www.stronghayden.com.

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It is a traditional toy store with something for all ages, including a large art section and Lego collectables. Renee Fannin, Toy Proprietor, will do special orders and also has gift wrap and delivery services.

The Toy Company was represented by Judy Naimo of Green Valley Associates. Matt Connolly, Gary Van Dam, and Jim Henry of Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord in the transaction.

For more information about space for lease downtown in the Napa Town Center, contact Strong & Hayden.

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Michael Holcomb of Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate represented the seller along with Gerry Bosch of Coldwell Banker. The buyer was represented by Beth Braby of Pacific Union.

“The multifamily investment market has been one of the fastest rebounding sectors,” says Holcomb. “High quality properties in the Bay Area, such as many of the apartment buildings in downtown Napa with low vacancy rates are in high demand.”

Holcomb can be reached at 707-226-2661x203 and a comprehensive list of current property listings can be found at www.stronghayden.com.

For more information about this story, contact
Elissa Wiebalk, Marketing
Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate
(707) 226-2661
ewiebalk@stronghayden.com

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The 13,000 square-foot office space is at Napa Gateway Business Park, a 386-acre premier master plan business park with more than 1.3 million square feet constructed to date.

Child Start serves as a child and family services agency committed to comprehensive family and children’s services in the two-county region comprised of Napa and Solano. The Early Head Start and Head Start programs provide services to more than 1,000 children and their families. For more information about the programs offered by the organization, go to www.childstartinc.org.

Van Dam and Henry can be reached at 226-2661 and a comprehensive list of current property listings can be found at www.stronghayden.com.

For more information about this story, contact
Elissa Wiebalk, Marketing
Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate
(707) 226-2661
ewiebalk@stronghayden.com

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The local store’s lease on the property continues through the sale. Jim Henry and Gary Van Dam of Strong and Hayden Commercial Real Estate represented both seller and buyer in the transaction.

The property is a welcome addition to Zapolski Real Estate’s portfolio of land investments in Northern California.

The previous owner was Campos Campos Alonzo & Ritchie, a limited partnership, represented by Trustee Jim Nord.

For more information about this story, contact
Elissa Wiebalk, Marketing
Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate
(707) 226-2661
ewiebalk@stronghayden.com

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780 Lincoln will still be used for the benefit of children and the new location of V.O.I.C.E.S. is closer to schools and better suited to serve its base of clients. The local nonprofit is the outgrowth of a Gasser initiative stemming from community concern regarding the welfare of aging out foster care youth. The program helps emancipated foster kids ages 16-24 find housing and work, develop life skills and maneuver public agencies.

Napa Children’s Cottage has moved its infant center to the main preschool campus at 1078 East Avenue in Alta Heights. Ray and Mary Welch own and manage the early care and education center for children from birth-6 years old.

Jim Henry, Gary Van Dam and Michael Holcomb of Strong and Hayden represented buyer, seller, and new tenants in the transaction.

“This is a great way to support a program we believe in by diverting assets that would normally be invested elsewhere,” says Joseph Peatman, President of Gasser Foundation.

“V.O.I.C.E.S. pays a market rent on the property and the return is substantially equivalent to what Gasser could earn on its investments elsewhere. And the rent we earn still goes into the pot we distribute every year as grants.”

For more information about the Peter A. and Vernice H. Gasser Foundation and its mission, visit www.gasserfoundation.org

For more information about this story, contact
Elissa Wiebalk, Marketing
Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate
(707) 226-2661
ewiebalk@stronghayden.com

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1408 Clay Street will soon be transformed into Mini Mango Thai Bistro. The chef has trained with renowned chefs at Le Cordon Blue California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and has over eight years of experience creating Southeast Asian-Thai cuisine combined with fresh, locally-produced ingredients. Gary Van Dam represented both the owner and tenant.

Husband and wife team Mauro Pando and Nancy Lindaas Pando boast impressive resumes for their new creation at 1400 Second Street. Chef Mauro has local experience at numerous Kimpton properties, including Executive Chef at Grand Café in San Francisco and Chef de cuisine at Scala’s Bistro, and eleven years reign as Executive Chef at Red Star Tavern and Roast House in Portland. Nancy has over 23 years of restaurant management experience.

Quattro on Second, formerly La Gondola, on the corner of Second Street and Brown, will be a restaurant and wine bar based on the four seasons with an international flair. “We are excited to serve the community using local fresh ingredients” says manager Stephanie Kendall. Michael Holcomb and Matt Connolly completed the transactions for both new Second Street restaurants.

Gary Van Dam is working with prospective tenants for two more ideal restaurant spaces in the revitalized downtown Napa area.

Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate provides tenants, owners and investors with a broad range of real estate services in Napa and Solano Counties. With an experienced team of professionals who have sold and leased over 2,250,000 square feet in commercial transactions, the company’s extensive local expertise generates a product that is best for the client and sustainable for the community.

For more information, call 707-226-2661.

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Meant to evoke “strength” and a play on the word “hay,” two longtime Napa commercial brokers, Gary Van Dam and Jim Henry, have formed Strong & Hayden. The firm assists buyers, owners, and tenants with leasing, sales and acquisitions of commercial real estate.

“We have a firm belief in the strength of commercial real estate,” Henry said. “These are challenging times for both tenants and owners, however, we see many opportunities.” “For tenants, we realize the importance of how a location must fit their business strategy and model,” Henry said. “For owners and prospective buyers, we understand that each commercial property is one element in their overall asset portfolio that needs the right amount of attention and analysis to maximize value.”

These days, prospective tenants considering Napa spaces have a number of new developments to pick from. Downtown projects such as Riverfront, Avia and Napa Square are generating interest, said Van Dam.

Strong & Hayden was recently tapped to spur on new leasing efforts for Napa Town Center. Other Strong & Hayden projects include leasing all Gasser properties and locating a larger space for Lafitte Cork & Capsule.

Interest is one thing, but signed leases are another. “We are seeing activity, but a lot of people won’t be moving forward until 2010,” Van Dam said. “People are waiting to see where this economy is going to take them before they do anything.”

Even with a wait and see attitude, “the bottom line is that there are always transactions and opportunities throughout the cycle,” wrote Henry in an e-mail. “Having a better idea of where you are as a tenant, landlord, buyer or seller should be an important part of your decision, pricing and bids.”

Commercial broker Michael Holcomb, broker associate Matt Connolly, financier Joe Fischer, Todd Dobson and Milan Clarke complete the new Strong & Hayden team.

“At my age some might think I am crazy to start a new company, but in all my years in commercial real estate, I have never been so excited,” Henry said. “This is a great team.”

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Incorporated as Strong & Hayden, the new Napa-based commercial real estate firm includes Jim Henry and Gary Van Dam. They have been partners in hundreds of thousands of square feet of leasing and sales transactions in Napa and Solano counties for the past several years.

"We want to create something a little different and bring on some other team members," Mr. Van Dam said.

Mr. Henry and Mr. Van Dam have been working together since 2004, when Mr. Henry joined Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of the Valley in Napa. Mr. Henry left the brokerage late last year and Mr. Van Dam left that firm in May.

Also joining them is broker Michael Holcomb from Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of the Valley and Matt Connolly, whose 28-year brokerage and development background includes oversight of some major downtown Napa projects and properties.

Mr. Connolly most recently was managing construction and development for John Connolly Partners of Larkspur. Before that he was development director for Richmond-based Channel Properties in charge of Winship Building renovation and leasing, acquisition and leasing of Alexandria Square and management of The Riverfront mixed-use project reaching completion along the Napa River.

Prior to Channel, he managed acquisitions, entitlements and construction for Chelsea Property Group's West Coast operations, including the Premium Outlets malls in Napa and Petaluma.

While the sluggish economy has brought much residential and commercial development to a standstill and a number of large companies have been putting off decisions on commercial space until 2010, Mr. Van Dam said now is no time to pull back.

"Our experience is that people are looking now and signing leases now," Mr. Van Dam said. "Even for those that are waiting, they are actively looking and prioritizing the sites that they will pull the trigger on when they get the OK internally."

In the meantime, there are property owners facing the prospect of significant vacancies in their buildings and tenants that want or need rent reductions, according to Mr. Henry. Making the call to sell the property or renegotiate a lease to maintain tenancy and cash flow is challenging in a market with low sales volume and significant reductions in value for some properties.

"We have the ability to help owners analyze where they are and identify options," Mr. Henry said.

For help with business appraisal, investment strategy and tax planning, the new brokerage has brought on Joe Fischer of Whidbey Partners. He is currently consulting in the Copia bankruptcy.

"A lot of people don't have a clear idea of what they want their real estate asset to do," he said. "Many have out-of-whack ownership structures."

Other considerations for existing owners of commercial property and for those considering a purchase at a time of lower prices is whether the property is worth spending additional money to upgrade and whether it is an asset to hold long-term.

Mr. Henry has run commercial brokerages before. In 1989 he started JHL Commercial Properties in Napa, and 10 years later the brokerage part of the business was acquired by Coldwell Banker Commercial Brokers of the Valley. Mr. Henry left the brokerage in 2004 to start his own firm.

For more information, call 707-226-2661.
STRONG & HAYDEN,  433 Soscol Ave., Ste. A130, Napa 94559
Phone: 707-226-2661 Fax: 707-226-2339
Business: Commercial real estate brokerage.
Staff: 7

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