A commercial planned development featuring a 130,000-square-foot grocery-anchored shopping center, a 25,000-square-foot restaurant village with 15 adjacent pad sites and a community park is coming soon to the Collin County city of Lucas, Texas.

Younger Partners Senior Vice President Michael Ytem and Executive Vice President Tom Grunnah brokered the sale of the 42-acre parcel of undeveloped land at the northwest corner of Parker Road and Southview Drive (FM 1378) in Lucas, 30 miles northeast of Downtown Dallas in Collin County.

Ytem and Grunnah represented both the buyer, Lucas Crossing LTD – led by Malouf Interests – and the seller, JCBR Holdings, in the transaction. The sale price was not disclosed. Construction is set to begin in Q4 with an estimated completion in 2026.

Malouf Interests is leading its retail transformation in the highly desirable suburban area in northeastern Dallas. The development is strategically positioned to serve not only Lucas but also neighboring communities including Parker, North Wylie, Northeast Murphy and St. Paul. With its strong residential growth and appeal, Lucas continues to attract families and professionals, drawn to its high-quality lifestyle and expanding amenities.

Remember when a convenience store meal meant a bag of chips, stick of beef jerky and a bottle of pop? You can still get all that. But you can also nab prepared meals, hot sandwiches, salads and wraps. And these increased offerings are hitting fast-food chains.

Coldwell Banker Commercial in its latest Trend Report focused on how convenience stores have shifted from a place for consumers to stop quickly for snacks and fuel to popular food destinations. This shift has made these stores an increasingly attractive asset class for commercial real estate investors, according to the Coldwell Banker Commercial report.

These stores are especially popular for investors in the net-lease market.

“The convenience store industry is evolving to meet changing consumer needs,” said Dan Spiegel, senior vice president and managing director of Coldwell Banker Commercial, in a statement. “With smaller households, more urban locations and evolving food preferences, the sector is undergoing significant transformation. Given their frequent visits, convenience stores must stay closely connected to shifting consumer lifestyles to remain competitive in the retail market.”

Convenience store product mix drives growth

The report highlights how convenience stores have evolved from fuel and snack retailers into quick-service food and grocery alternatives.

This shift is most evident in the type of products that convenience stores offer. According to Coldwell Banker Commercial’s report, the sales of prepared food at convenience stores have risen 12.2% year-over-year.

In bad news for the country’s fast-food restaurants, the report also found that 56% of consumers now consider convenience stores to be viable substitutes for fast-food chains.

This growth, fueled by consumers’ demand for convenient, affordable and healthier food options, has added to the sector’s stability, even though profit margins remain narrow at around 5% to 7%. Coldwell Banker Commercial reported that the high turnover of products and steady consumer visits overcome the tight margins, making convenience stores a reliable source of income for investors.

The shift in consumer behavior–especially as inflation raises grocery prices–has positioned convenience stores as an attractive alternative for those seeking fresh food at affordable prices, according to the trends report.

Changing real estate needs

As convenience stores continue to add to their food offerings, their real estate needs are expanding.

In its report, Coldwell Banker Commercial points to chains like QuikTrip, Casey’s General Stores, RaceTrac and Wawa. These chains are investing in larger store formats to accommodate their expanding food preparation areas.

Many operators are also opening new locations in urban centers and exploring non-traditional spaces such as college campuses and downtown locations. These provide new opportunities for real estate investors.

Investment 0pportunities for convenience stores

Even though 60% of convenience stores are independently owned, the sector is seeing significant consolidation. Major players like 7-Eleven plan to open 500 new stores in the United States and Canada by 2027, while regional chains such as Wawa, Sheetz and Buc-ee’s are expanding into new markets.

This consolidation creates opportunities for investors to acquire properties with stronger tenant profiles and more predictable cash flows.

The sector’s strong position, driven by convenient locations, long-term leases (up to 20 years) and low vacancy rates, makes this asset class a stable investment option in the net-lease market. These factors, combined with steady demand, make the sector appealing to net-lease investors seeking reliable, long-term returns.

Lee & Associates closed the lease of a 103,870-square-foot distribution center at 21208 Kraus Loop in the Pinnacle Industry Center in Laredo, Texas.

Buckland Global Trade Services, a freight transportation company, will occupy the entire building.

The newly built distribution center sits on 7.35 acres and features a 32-foot clear height along with EV charging stations for both trucks and vehicles.

Enrique Volkmer of Lee & Associates — Houston represented the tenant in this transaction.

Dallas-based Apricus Realty Capital acquired an industrial outdoor storage property in a sale-leaseback transaction with Box Gang Manufacturing, a producer of specialized container solutions.

The property, located in Houston, serves as a critical operational facility for Box Gang Manufacturing. The sale-leaseback structure enables the company to unlock capital while maintaining long-term operational continuity at the site.

Apricus acquired the property in a programmatic joint venture with ABR Capital. Apricus Managing Principal Matt Haley, Vice Presidents Garrett Marler and Cort Martin led the acquisition for the joint venture. Mohr Partners’ Nathan Mai and Carlton Anderson represented the joint venture in the transaction. CW Sheehan, Peyton Ackerman and Nate Henderson of JLL represented the joint venture in the procurement of debt financing.

The 11-acre property features rail service and more than 100,000 square feet spread across multiple buildings.

The investment further enhances Apricus Realty Capital’s presence in the industrial sector, which continues to see strong demand from users and investors alike, Marler added.

Box Gang Manufacturing, known for its innovative solutions in the container manufacturing industry, will continue to operate from the facility under a long-term lease agreement, ensuring uninterrupted business operations.

Colonnade of The Woodlands, a 42,030-square-foot neighborhood retail center in The Woodlands, Texas,, recently sold to SJBC XXIII, LLC, a private investment group assembled by Jeff Beard, President, and Marshall Davidson, Chief Investment Officer, of The J. Beard Real Estate Company.

Colonnade of The Woodlands is located at 30420 F.M. 2978 at Woodlands Parkway in The Woodlands. The center’s major tenants include Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, School of Rock, F-45 Training, Zoo Health Club, and Bear Branch Animal Hospital.

SJBC XXIII, LLC, represented their own interests in the acquisition. The undisclosed sellers, a private limited partnership, were represented by Micha van Marcke, Managing Principal, and Chace Henke, Principal, with Edge Capital Markets.

John Fenoglio, Executive Vice President, and Brock Hudson, Vice President of CBRE Capital Markets, Debt & Structured Finance, arranged the acquisition debt financing through an undisclosed life insurance company.

The leasing and management for Colonnade of The Woodlands has been awarded to SVN | J. Beard Real Estate, a specialized brokerage and property management division of The J. Beard Real Estate Company, effective immediately.

 JLL Capital Markets brokered the sale of Elizabeth Creek Gateway Buildings D & E, two Class-A industrial buildings totaling 1,106,064 square feet within the AllianceTexas master-planned project in the Dallas-Fort Worth MSA.

JLL represented the seller in the transaction, and an affiliate of WPT Capital Advisors acquired the property.

Completed in 2021, the two cross-dock facilities feature 36-foot clear heights, ESFR sprinkler systems, 60-foot staging bays and ample car and trailer parking. The park is 100% leased to three tenants from diverse industries including telecommunications, government services and communications technology.

Located at 16000 and 15716 Wolff Crossing, the property offers direct access to State Highway 114 and is within a 10-minute drive of I-35W and State Highways 287, 170 and 37. Elizabeth Creek Gateway’s prime position just three miles north of Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport and 20 miles from both Dallas Fort Worth International and Fort Worth Meacham International airports enhances its logistical appeal. Additionally, the property’s location within the Texas Triangle – encompassing Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio – allows tenants to reach over 25 million people within hours.

The JLL Capital Markets Investment Sales and Advisory team was led by Industrial Group Co-Head and Senior Managing Director Trent Agnew, Senior Director Tom Weber, Director Pauli Kerr and Analyst Andrew Griffin.