San Antonio Express News: Retailers rush to fill empty Blockbusters

By Neal Morton

January 17, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — Less than a week after Blockbuster closed its remaining stores, businesses hoping to make their debut or expand their footprint in San Antonio have targeted the newly vacant — and apparently prime — commercial real estate space.

Blockbuster officially closed its last 10 locations here Sunday, just two months after the embattled video-rental company announced it would walk away from the few hundred remaining stores it operated across the country.

During the holidays, bargain hunters scoured the bins and shelves at area Blockbusters, hoping to score a cheap movie from the latest victim of online competition.

Already, a First Choice Emergency Care clinic has started moving into one of the now-empty stores, at 13434 Nacogdoches Road.

Other Blockbuster locations across the city have appeared on the radar of fast-growing franchise chains, including Frisco-based Mooyah, a fast-casual burger and shake chain that opened its first restaurant here two years ago.

Similarly, spa company Hand & Stone and 24-hour gym operator Workout Anytime might consider some of Blockbuster's old digs to establish an initial presence in San Antonio.

“It's kind of an irony or, I guess, just an evolution of business that Blockbuster disrupted the video industry by changing the way people watch movies,” said Todd Leff, president of Hand & Stone. “And then business evolved again: Blockbuster's out, and now we're coming to change the way massages and facials are delivered.”

Since 2012, the New Jersey-based franchiser has opened 14 spas in Austin, the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Houston, with six more locations in the works.

Leff wants to open at least three spas in San Antonio and has paid attention to Blockbuster locations in the city.

Blockbuster officially closed its remaining 10 locations in San Antonio, opening real estate space for other retailers. This location is 2951 Thousand Oaks Drive.

“We've done some investigation into the real estate there, and things like Blockbuster are a key component for us to be able to get into big-box anchored shopping centers at a reasonable rate,” he said. “We've identified some key locations, but it's all about finding the right developer at this point.”

Businesses like Leff's have waited months for Blockbuster to vacate its space.

The company operated more than 9,000 retail locations less than a decade ago. But crippling pressure from online streaming services and video rental kiosks pushed Blockbuster's owner, Dish Network Corp., to announce in November that it would close its remaining stores.

The official closure last weekend cleared the way for opportunistic retailers looking to find a home here.

“With the real estate climate being what it's been the last few years, we haven't seen much” new construction, said Alan Hixon, vice president of development for Mooyah. “Availability is what really drives your real estate.

“So without a lot of projects coming out of the ground, you're going to need second-generation space,” he added.

Mooyah franchised its first location here at 22502 U.S. 281 near Stone Oak, but the owners hope to debut as many as 20 more restaurants in the city.

Like Hixon, Randy Trotter, vice president of development for Georgia-based Workout Anytime, described the newly vacant Blockbusters as attractive places to open the company's first San Antonio gyms.

“They are normally in grocery-anchored shopping centers, with great visibility, access and parking,” Trotter said. “A large company like (Blockbuster) did their homework back in the day and really picked quality real estate.”

http://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Retailers-rush-to-fill-empty-Blockbusters-5150380.php

Hand & Stone is proud to be the first to receive $100 Million to fuel growth!

Benetrends Announces New $100 Million Fund To Fuel Franchise Growth

Hand & Stone Secures $10 Million in Initial Funding to Drive its Expansion Across U.S.

NORTH WALES, Pa., Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Benetrends, the trusted leader in franchise funding, announced today the creation of a new proprietary $100 million franchise financing program. The new franchise lending program was created to help International Franchise Association franchisor members provide qualified candidates with direct access to capital for new store development. Hand & Stone, a rapidly growing spa franchise, is the first franchisor selected by Benetrends to participate in the new fund. Hand & Stone has been provided $10 million in initial capital to assist with its franchise growth.

"Benetrends is excited to now provide franchisors and their franchisees access to the critical funding needed to expand their current operations or purchase their first franchise," said Rocco Fiorentino, president & CEO, Benetrends, Inc. "We're pleased to award Hand & Stone the first $10 million from the new fund as they look to meet their future development needs following their record-setting growth in 2013."

Franchisors and franchisees selected to participate in the program benefit from:

• Direct access to capital
• Simplified qualification process
• Dedicated loan officer from application to closing
• Loan proposals within 48 hours of receiving initial application
• Loan commitments within 10 business days of receiving loan package
• Consistent communication with lender and single point of contact
• Experienced PLP SBA lender

"Capital access challenges are going to affect every franchise system's unit expansion for the next few years," said Bob McQuillan, Hand & Stone vice president of franchise development. "The days of building relationships with preferred lenders in advance of expected loan applications are gone and we're now experiencing a paradigm shift in the ways franchisors and lenders interact. A fund like Benetrends will continue to allow brands such as ours to grow organically and bring in best-in-class franchisees and operators." 

In addition to the new franchise financing program, Benetrends also offers a full suite of funding options to help entrepreneurs secure the capital needed for their small business or franchise. The company originated the 401(k)/IRA tax-deferred and penalty-free rollover process more than 30 years ago and has created more than 85,000 jobs with $4 billion in retirement assets invested in America's small businesses. Additionally, Benetrends features a wide range of loan options covering every type of business need, including SBA loans, equipment leasing, merchant cash advances, securities-backed lines of credit, and more.

"Part of ensuring sustained franchise growth across the country includes offering access to strong, franchise-focused lending programs such as Benetrends new $100 million fund," said Steve Caldeira, president and CEO, International Franchise Association. "In doing so, we are providing both existing and prospective franchisees with the tools and financial resources they will need for long-term growth and success."  

Hand & Stone Featured in the Tampa Bay Times

Entrepreneurs bring Hand & Stone Massage to Brandon

·         By Eric Vician, Times Correspondent

Friday, November 8, 2013 12:12pm

Eric Vician | Special to the Times

Manager Katie Beasley, left, stands with Rene Tirado, who along with business partners Jim and Connie Weaver opened Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa at 11009 Causeway Blvd.

Rene Tirado and Jim Weaver know a few things about retail and franchising. They went into business together in 2001, opening Plato's Closet in Carrollwood, and have since opened four more of the consignment stores in Tampa, Brandon, Lakeland and Wesley Chapel.

But their latest franchising venture can be attributed to Jim's wife, Connie, who bought Jim a gift certificate to the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. The present, a three-hour massage, went unused for a year and a half. Then, after Connie threatened to regift it, Jim grudgingly redeemed it.

"He was blown away by the whole process," Tirado said.

Within hours, the business partners had researched the company and were on a flight to Hand & Stone's corporate office in New Jersey. They were sold on massages and opened a new location last month at 11009 Causeway Blvd. They also bought the existing Hand & Stone location in Palm Harbor.

"When we went up there, we were looking for why not to do it," Tirado said of the trip to Hamilton, N.J. "We felt great about it."

Hand & Stone specializes in massages with smooth river stones that are heated to 120 degrees. But unlike other spas that simply place the hot stones on your back, the Hand & Stone massage therapists implement them as part of the massage process.

A one-hour hot stone massage costs $59.95 for new clients. Other introductory offers include a one-hour massage for $39.95 or facial from an esthetician for $49.95. Or you may choose to become a member and for $49.95 a month, you can enjoy any massage or facial once every 30 days at any of the more than 140 locations nationwide.

The 2,200-square-foot spa has eight rooms for massages and facials, including couples rooms. The Brandon location is the 14th in Florida and is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Call (813) 409-3848 for an appointment or visit handandstone.com.

If you know of something that should be Everybody's Business, email Eric Vician at ericvician@yahoo.com.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/entrepreneurs-bring-hand--stone-massage-to-brandon/2151484