Ralph Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu opening first Sacramento affiliate in North Natomas

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has a certain following in Sacramento with approximately ten separate facilities spread throughout the area; yet North Sacramento has been under served… until now.  This month, another BJJ operator will open its doors in North Natomas, but with one significant distinction.  It will sport the Gracie family name.  

Those familiar with BJJ will immediately recognize the value of this franchise, which started in 1914 when “a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion Esai Maeda migrated to Brazil, where he was instrumental in establishing a Japanese immigrant community.  His efforts were aided by Gastão Gracie, a Brazilian scholar and politician of Scottish descent.  As an expression of his gratitude for Gracie’s assistance, Maeda taught the Brazilian’s oldest son Carlos the essential secrets of the ancient martial arts technique.  Carlos taught Maeda’s techniques to his four brothers, and in 1925 they opened the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in Brazil.”

Click here for related story by the Sacramento Business Journal.

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Jackson Sports Academy expands to offer largest basketball facility in Northern California @ McClellan Park

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Jackson Sports Academy expands to 200,000 sq.ft. facility @ McClellan Park

Over the past seven years, Dwayne Jackson (Jackson Sports Academy) has leased multiple Sacramento area warehouse facilities in pursuit of growing his girls club volleyball franchise.  Just over a year ago, this pursuit lead Jackson to McClellan Park, where Brian Jacks (East West Commercial Real Estate Broker) represented him for the 10-year lease of almost 75,000 square feet, which primarily houses 12 volleyball courts plus doubles for other sports and entertainment venues as well.  It was always Jackson’s goal to one day expand to offer basketball and indoor soccer too.  McClellan Park’s free-span hangars were the perfect solution with a sea of parking right out front.  Now, with the opportunity to host basketball tournaments in connection with Matt William’s Jam On It Basketball Academy, Jackson Sports Academy and East West Commercial have secured an expansion that totals almost 200,000 square feet, making it the largest basketball facility in Northern California.

Click here for a press release by the Sacramento Sports Commission and related articles by the Sacramento Business Journal and News Radio KFBK.  Click here for a news story by KCRA Channel 3 and video of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League Tournament held April 2014 at Jackson Sports Academy.

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East West Commercial Real Estate adds new agents after two successful years in Sacramento

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East West Commercial Real Estate is a boutique brokerage firm based in Orange County with over twenty agents in five states.  After leaving a long commercial real estate lending career with Wells Fargo, Brian Jacks (Northern California Regional Vice President of East West Commercial) launched the company’s Sacramento office in November 2011.  Considering the local economy is still weak, there has been sufficient activity to keep busy with several high profile commercial and non-profit lease transactions, such as Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen, Hacker Lab, Jackson Sports Academy, Fitness System, Curves, Streamline Church and Cornerstone Christian School.  

East West Commercial Real Estate – Sacramento area lease transactions

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Commercial site in Sacramento’s Land Park becomes focal point of community once again

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On Sutterville Road in Land Park is a two story office building located right in between the Sacramento Zoo, La Bou Café and Sprouts Market.  Until recently, this 40,000 square foot building had become almost entirely devoid of tenants and business activity due to the severe recession.  However, it’s not the first time this particular property has succumbed to the pressures of a deteriorating local economy.  

Land Park office building becomes focal point of community once again

Click here for related article in Sacramento Business Journal.

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Commercial property lease expirations sneak up on Sacramento area business owners

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It’s still a tenant’s market out there… and its been that way for quite some time here in the Sacramento area.  Commercial property owners know all to well that savvy tenant’s have the upper hand when it comes to negotiating new or renewal leases.  However, not being armed with the right information (and trying to go it alone) can lead to less than stellar results.  

Photo by the Sacramento Business Journal

The Sacramento Business Journal discussed in a recent article how Rob Fauble, owner of The Beat (a record store in Midtown Sacramento), lost his commercial property lease after 19 years in business at 1700 J Street.  Although Rob make the right decision to hire a local Sacramento commercial real estate broker, he was still unsuccessful in cutting a deal with the landlord to let him stay.  Occasionally, a commercial property owner has the opportunity to upgrade a tenant with a national company, who can pay more rent and create value for the property… such as the case with The Beat’s former location.  

More often that not, however, in this current market, tenant’s hold the necessary leverage to negotiate highly favorable lease terms for commercial property throughout the greater Sacramento area.  Continue reading below for a list of do’s and dont’s to learn how tenants can best prepare for this important task.

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Sacramento area Curves franchisees consider best commercial properties for new growth

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The global leader in women’s fitness

Curves was launched in 1992 and quickly grew to become the largest fitness franchise in the world, with over 10,000 locations in 90 countries.  In recent years, the great recession took hold and weeded out many under-performing clubs, resulting in a reduction of more than 30% (now 6,800 locations worldwide).  For many reasons, it became necessary for the original Curves founders to identify a suitable equity partner to acquire the majority stake in the business and take Curves to its next level.  One year ago, Curves was sold to North Castle Partners, a hands-on, value-added investor of high-growth, middle market companies in the beauty & personal care, consumer health, fitness, recreation & sports, home & leisure and nutrition sectors, among others.  It is anticipated that North Castle Partners will capitalize on this investment by infusing Curves with well funded resources and pertinent expertise to regain and increase market share once more.

Click here for related story in the Sacramento Business Journal.

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Sacramento commercial real estate broker participates in China trade mission

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China’s growing appetite for foreign goods is staggering and California is racing to meet the challenge.  Fueled by Governor Brown’s whirlwind trip to six Chinese cities last April, a follow up trip took place in May by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber) and officials within the City of Sacramento.  Click here for video.

Having the privilege of participating with the CalAsian Chamber delegation, I joined Pat Fong Kushida (President of CalAsian Chamber) and Margaret Wong (President of McWong International), along with elected officials and many other business leaders on our first stop in Shanghai.  Here, we visited the brand new California-China Office of Trade and Investment, which is operated by the Bay Area Council. It is the first foreign trade office California has re-opened since all were shut down in 2003.

Shanghai Tower (left) – second tallest building in the world, 2073 feet tall, 121 stories, 4 million sf

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Fitness System opens new athletic club in Land Park commercial property adjacent to Sacramento Zoo

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East West Commercial Real Estate is pleased to announce the May 2013 opening of Fitness System Land Park at 1250 Sutterville Road in the City of Sacramento.  Fitness System is part of a local network of athletic clubs with three additional locations in West Sacramento, Lodi, and Woodland.  

Fitness System – 17,000 sq.ft. athletic club opened May 2013 in Land Park

The newest facility comprises 17,000 square feet and is located directly across from the Sacramento Zoo and Sprouts Market / La Bou Cafe at the corner of Sutterville Road & Land Park Drive.  Sean Covell, owner / operator of locally based Fitness System, is excited to provide a much needed athletic club to Land Park residents and intends to become active within the community right away.  The club offers free weights, machines, aerobics and child care on the first floor, while members engaged in cardio workouts upstairs have the unique opportunity to watch the giraffes at the Sacramento Zoo located just across the street.  See related article from Sacramento Business Journal and CoStar.

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4th Annual Legislative Summit hosted by California Asian Chamber of Commerce at State Capitol

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Living in Sacramento, its easy to take for granted that we actually reside in the State Capitol of California, which represents the 9th largest economy in the entire world.  At times, a healthy reminder is in order to draw attention to this remarkable privilege that we all share.  Important matters are considered and decided every day inside the venerable halls of the State Capitol.  We are certainly fortunate to now have our very own local correspondent, Christopher Arns (Sacramento Business Journal), who has already written over 40 stories covering legislative activities surrounding the State Capitol since January.  

It is incumbent upon citizens to communicate with legislators to ensure their voices are heard.  It is within this context I participated last week in the 4th Annual Legislative Summit at the State Capitol, hosted by the California Asian Chamber of Commerce.  Pat Fong Kushida (President & CEO of the CalAsian Chamber) led four teams who met with over 40 legislative offices to discuss pro-business issues including workforce development, taxation, economic development, and regulatory reform.  It was a terrific day with open dialogue and a distinct willingness to come together.

California State Senator Jim Nielsen (third from left) with CalAsian Chamber lobby team

One such meeting took place with Senator Jim Nielsen (see picture above), where team representatives connected on a personal level, sharing concerns and ideas for improvement in various areas.  This scene repeated itself many times throughout the day as we walked the halls, transitioning from one meeting to the next.  In a fitting culmination of events, the CalAsian Chamber lobby teams capped off the evening with a tasteful reception with dozens of legislators and staffers, along with community and business leaders.

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Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen Revs Up for McClellan Park Grand Opening

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Local Sacramento food truck operator, Andrew Blaskovich (aka “Drewski”), has been on the Sacramento scene for over two years now, serving up gourmet sandwiches to hungry crowds.  With well over 15,000 Twitter and Facebook followers, he is most certainly a force to be reckoned with and has been recognized by Food Network as one of the Top 10 food truck operators in America.  Drewski’s has received rave reviews in local print and media and is currently ranked #1 on the KCRA “A” List and was voted #1 best Food Truck by Sacramento News & Review. 

In a growing trend, the success of food truck operators has convinced some to open brick-and-mortar locations as well.  For Blaskovich, his foray into the brick-and-mortar restaurant business started with a Midtown Sacramento commercial property operated by Republic, a large sports bar, located across from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.  He partnered with the owners to provide his signature dishes and experienced tremendous success ever since.  Drewski’s second brick-and-mortar location is essentially a small café positioned within the lobby of a commercial office building on Iron Point Road in Folsom.  However, Drewski’s third brick-and-mortar really takes the cake.

Click here for related articles written by the Sacramento Bee, Cowtown Eats, and Sacramento Business Journal.

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