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E MARTINI, HOTHAM AND YAMA ASIAN FUSION OPEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AT GRUBB PROPERTIES’ MORRISON NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH PARK
Latest shops add food, fashion and furnishings to growing upscale tenant mix

CHARLOTTE, NC – December 19, 2007 – Grubb Properties and Casto Lifestyle Properties, partners in the mixed-use neighborhood of Morrison at South Park, today announced the addition of three new merchants to the upscale retail streetscape of Morrison.

E Martini, Yama Asian Fusion and Hotham have all opened at Morrison since Thanksgiving.

E Martini, a well-known local boutique brimming with exquisite European lingerie and sleepwear as well as unique ladies swimwear, has moved into a 1,285 square foot shop nestled between Varji & Varji Salon and the popular Winestore. Eileen Martini and Bob Phipps, owners of the shop, believe the larger space, growing residential base at Morrison, and increasingly strong retail mix point to excellent growth prospects for the shop, which continues to serve a loyal clientele from throughout Charlotte.

Yama Asian Fusion, the third restaurant from a local ownership group including partner Paul Wu, brings a menu featuring fresh and innovative Japanese and Asian specialties – including sushi – and a hip, transitional space that feels distinctly urban. Yama, with impeccable service and both indoor and outdoor seating, is located in a light and airy 2,940 square foot space across from the newest Earth Fare gourmet grocer and shares a courtyard with the award-winning Arooji’s Wineroom & Ristorante.

Hotham, the brainchild of former Very Chihuahua owner Carolyn Hotham, is an upper end boutique featuring exclusive designer jewelry and a selection of beautiful antiques and home furnishings that appeal to the owner’s personal sense of taste. Hotham has decorated the 1,006 square foot store to evoke memories of her home and believes Morrison’s collection of similarly chic boutiques – including next spring’s openings of Capitol and Chezelle – will make it one of Charlotte’s most desirable destinations.

The three new shops join a now-open collection of restaurants, shops and boutiques that includes: Earth Fare gourmet grocer, Varji & Varji Salon, Winestore, Laughing Buddha Yoga Studio, Arooji’s Wineroom & Ristorante, Drapery Every After, Bank of Granite, Asana Activewear and Morrison Dry Cleaners.

From January to June 2008, scheduled openings include: Stickley Furniture, Barnes & Noble, Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill, Capitol, B.D. Jeffries, Swoozie’s, Chezelle Boutique, Black & Blue Denim Boutique and TD Ameritrade.

About Grubb Properties

Grubb Properties was founded in 1963 in Lexington, NC. After an initial focus on building, financing and selling affordable homes to low-income families, the company has grown to become one of North Carolina’s leading real estate firms with integrated expertise in residential, commercial and mixed-use development, acquisition, financing, construction, property management, sales and leasing. Grubb Properties now has approximately 100 employees, a management and/or leasing portfolio of nearly two million square feet of commercial and residential properties, and a focus on revitalizing properties, land and communities in North Carolina’s premier real estate markets. The company is headquartered in Charlotte and maintains offices in Cary and Lexington, North Carolina. For additional information visit www.grubbproperties.com.

About Casto Lifestyle Properties

Casto Lifestyle Properties, an affiliate company of CASTO, is based in Sarasota, Florida and focuses on the development of mixed-use lifestyle centers. Current projects include the firm’s redevelopment of the 524,000-square-foot Winter Park Village in Winter Park, Florida; One Hundred Central, a private-public partnership with the City of Sarasota, anchored by Whole Foods Market; Main Street at Lakewood Ranch, a 170,000 square-foot lifestyle center development located in the heart of the 28,000-acre Lakewood Ranch project; and Lakeside Village, a 500,000 square foot mixed-use lifestyle center located south of Lakeland, FL. To learn more about CASTO Lifestyle Properties call (941) 552-2700 or visit www.castolp.com.

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Posted: December 20, 2007 - News | More News