DeBartolo buys into Tennessee

TAMPA — DeBartolo Development LLC acquired two Publix-anchored shopping centers near Nashville, the company's first acquisitions within the state of Tennessee.

One of the two properties is Mt. View Marketplace, a 101,000-square-foot shopping center completed in 2009. Located in Antioch, Tenn., the complex includes three parcels available for sale or lease, and is set up to have 9,000 square feet of retail space added on in the future.

The other is Harpeth Village, a 68,000-square-foot property that DeBartolo says is “nearly 100% leased.”

“We're big fans of Publix,” says Edward Kobel, DeBartolo's president and chief operating officer.

DeBartolo's investment strategy for 2011 appears to be focused on acquiring properties in untapped markets. Earlier this month, the firm acquired its third property in the Chicago area this year.