48 — October 2026 — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
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M id A tlantic R eal E state J ournal
Abercrombie & Fitch opens at AH Realty Trust’s Town Center
New luxury apartment community under construction Cathcart Group building 186- unit Phase I in Winchester, VA
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Abercrombie & Fitch opened the doors to its new 5,033 s/f store in Town Center of Virginia Beach over Labor Day weekend, giving Hampton Roads shop- pers their first opportunity to experience the retailer’s rede- signed store environment. “For many Hampton Roads shoppers, Abercrombie is a name tied to a particu- lar time and place, but the store they are walking into today tells a very different story,” said Gerald Divaris , chairman and CEO of Diva- ris Real Estate. “Its return brings both recognition and relevance. It also reinforces Town Center’s ability to at- tract brands that are grow- ing, evolving and choosing physical locations where they can become part of the daily life of a community.” The brand’s evolution is visible in its merchandise as well as its presentation. Abercrombie now serves a broader adult audience with expanded sizing and fit offer - ings, including its Curve Love denim and bottoms, multiple length options and a wider range of silhouettes than the brand was historically known for. The assortment has also grown beyond casual basics to include workwear, occasion dressing, activewear, licensed sports apparel and the A&F Wedding Shop. At Town Center, Abercrom- bie & Fitch joins a Main St. retail lineup that includes
REDERICK COUN- TY, VA — The Cath- cart Group is ex- panding its footprint in the Shenandoah Valley with The Reserve at Winchester, a new luxury apartment community currently under construction within the Heritage Com- mons mixed-use development in Frederick County. The first phase of the com - munity will introduce 186 luxury apartment homes on approximately 13 acres and marks the beginning of a planned 444-home, two- phase development designed to meet the region’s grow- ing demand for high-quality F practical as more vehicles leave in the morning, return throughout the day for equip- ment or parts and come back at the end of the day. So, when looking at a location for a service-based business, the question isn’t necessarily, “How visible is the property?” It’s, “How easily can the business get from here to its customers?” The Details Matter, Too Once you look at the build- ing itself, the needs of service- based businesses can vary quite a bit. An HVAC contrac- tor, for example, needs space to load equipment, store parts and supplies, and support the employees working from the property. That can make fea- tures such as drive-in doors, clear height and the right bal- ance of warehouse and office space particularly important. Parking also becomes a big- ger consideration when you look at how the business oper- ates. Employees may arrive in their personal vehicles while
Abercrombie & Fitch in Town Center of Virginia Beach lululemon, Anthropologie, Free People, Madewell and Bluemercury. The concentra- tion of nationally recognized brands, combined with res- taurants, entertainment and a built-in population of resi- dents, employees and visitors, creates the kind of active, experience-oriented setting retailers increasingly seek. “Abercrombie’s decision to open here is significant because it brings a resur- gent national brand into the region in a format that fits how people shop now,” said Sezin Cortinas , executive vice president with Divaris Real Estate, who represented the landlord in the lease. “Town Center gives the brand visibil- ity, giving local customers a rea- son to rediscover Abercrombie in person.” The store is located at 4537 Main Street in Town Center of Virginia Beach, which is owned by AH Realty Trust and leased and managed by Diva- ris Real Estate. Current store hours and shopping informa- tion are available through Abercrombie & Fitch’s online store locator. MAREJ
The Reserve at Winchester
rental housing. Conveniently located along Crossover Bou- levard with immediate access to Front Royal Pike (U.S. 522) and I-81, The Reserve at Win- chester will offer residents a connected lifestyle with convenient access to major a fleet of vans or trucks comes and goes throughout the day. There may also be trailers, equipment or materials that need to be stored outside. A property that appears to have plenty of parking can start to feel much tighter once you ac- count for everything the busi- ness needs to keep on-site. Those requirements can change as the business grows which makes flexibility an- other important consideration. In a multi-tenant property, for example, an HVAC company may be able to expand into an adjacent bay if it needs more space. Additional parking or outdoor storage may also become more valuable as the fleet gets larger. None of these features is par- ticularly unusual on its own. But just as with collision repair, they all need to work together. A building can have the right square footage and still be a poor fit if there isn’t enough room for the vehicles, people, equipment and inventory the At the end of the day, business relationships in commercial real estate come down to one uni- versal truth: earning the trust of your team and your clients by delivering consistent, high- quality results. Whether you’re connecting over an industry event, a project walkthrough or a cup of coffee, being depend- able, transparent and knowl- edgeable is what truly moves the needle. What inspiring word of advice do you have for young women entering commercial real estate? The opportunities are
employers, shopping, dining, healthcare, and recreation throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley. The community will of- fer a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes. MAREJ business needs every day. It’s About Understanding the Business Behind the Lease At Lucern Capital Partners, we invest in small-bay, light industrial and retail proper- ties along the East Coast. One of the things we find most interesting about these properties is the variety of businesses that occupy them and the different ways they use their space. Service-based businesses are a good example. What may look like a fairly straightforward in- dustrial space from the outside can serve several purposes for the business operating inside. Looking at how the company uses the space, and what it needs to operate effectively, helps us think more carefully about the long-term fit between the tenant and the property. Understanding how all of those pieces fit together helps us look beyond the lease itself and think more carefully about whether a property works for the business occupying it. MAREJ limitless, from property management to leasing and sales. Don’t be afraid to lean into your unique perspective and background and never underestimate the value of a solid operational foundation. Find a firm that truly values mentorship and growth – a place where senior leadership is invested in teaching you the business from the inside out. Ask questions, raise your hand for complex challenges and re- member that confidence is built through preparation, execution and showing up every single day ready to learn. MAREJ
continued from page 2 Inside small-bay industrial: why service businesses . . .
The Taurasi Group’s Southend Lofts lands Orbital Kitchens’ first NJ Alto food hall
HOBOKEN, NJ — The Taurasi Group announced that Orbital Kitchens has signed a lease to bring Alto, the compa- ny’s new multi-concept food hall brand, to Southend Lofts, the 110-home luxury condominium community located at 38 Jackson St. in Hoboken, marking its first New Jersey location. Occupying 3,100 s/f, Alto will feature 15 proprietary restau- rant concepts. Designed by EL Design Corp. , Alto will also include a smoothie café and in- door seating. The Alto space will offer direct access to Southend Lofts’ dra- matic indoor public atrium, a contemporary interpretation of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanu- ele II. Topped by a translucent PTFE canopy, the naturally illuminated, weather-protected gathering space will support a mix of destination retail and dining, serving residents while creating a year-round gathering
Katie Migner turns a background in property operations . . . I see all the moving operation- al parts behind it. That allows me to spot potential hurdles early and solve them before they become deal-breakers. Beyond that, I’m an active listener. Clients can tell when you’re genuinely invested in their goals, and that authen- ticity builds immediate trust. Do you feel there are any differences in the way that men and women develop business relationships? continued from page 42
Southend Lofts’atrium: VUW Studio place for the broader Hoboken community. Alto joins a growing collection of retail, dining, wellness and community uses taking shape at Southend Lofts, where interior build-outs are progressing ahead of opening. The lineup includes supermarket Southend Market, Nana’s Dim Sum + Dumplings, Under Pressure Espresso Bar, active lifestyle brand and com- munity fitness club City Fitness, and a dedicated Pre-Kindergar- ten and Early Childhood Edu- cation Center for the Hoboken Public School District. MAREJ
I don’t see a fundamental dif- ference in how men and women build professional relationships.
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