Sembler, Forge Announce Retail Center Acquisition in Georgia

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – (July 29, 2022) – The Sembler Company and Forge Capital Partners, in their Forge Real Estate Partners IV (FREP) investment fund, recently purchased Publix at Gunn Battle, an 80,675 square-foot retail center located near Warner Robins, Georgia at 6015 Watson Boulevard.

Anchored by Publix, Gunn Battle is currently 93% occupied.  The center is located at the corner of Watson Boulevard and Highway 140, just east of Interstate 75 with strong traffic counts of 27,200 vehicles per day and a three-mile radius population of over 32,500.  Warner Robins is a growing community in the Macon-Bibb MSA, featuring the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base, which employs over 24,000.

“Gunn Battle is a great buy for our fund,” said Sembler CEO Greg Sembler. “We’re excited about the new residential growth in the area, and are thrilled to own another Publix-anchored center with our long-term partners, Forge Capital.”

“A strong Publix store generates significant traffic,” said Sembler Vice President of Leasing Eve Sembler. “We’re pleased to own another asset in Georgia, and look forward to bringing new tenants to Gunn Battle as the area grows.”

Sembler will serve as Property Manager and Leasing Agent. Frank Militello (frank.militello@sembler.com) should be contacted for property leasing information.

In their FREP funds, Sembler and Forge have now acquired 21 shopping centers together in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas – and the partners are actively seeking additional investments in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast.

FREP is focused on the acquisition, development and redevelopment of retail real estate projects in the southeastern United States. FREP is a community development entity whose intent is to provide strong returns to investors seeking socially responsible investment opportunities while promoting economic revitalization, business development, and job creation in or near low and/or moderate-income communities. Investors include public financial institutions that will receive credit under the Community Reinvestment Act for such investments.

About Sembler:

The Sembler Company is celebrating 60 years of creating retail real estate value. Sembler provides a full array of retail real estate services, including development and redevelopment, acquisition, property and asset management, leasing and other related services throughout the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Sembler, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, has developed more than 350 projects totaling 28 million square feet and currently leases and manages 8 million square feet. For more information, please visit www.sembler.com.

About Forge Capital Partners:

Forge Capital Partners is a diversified, commercial real estate investment and investment management company.  The company carries out its business strategy by sponsoring value-add retail real estate private equity funds.   Since 2000, Forge and its principals have successfully sponsored real estate oriented, closed-end private equity funds, and executed over $1 billion of retail and multifamily real estate transactions. Forge is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information about Forge Capital Partners, please visit www.forgecapitalpartners.com