Cosi Has Appetite For Baltimore Region, Signing Two Leases in Entry Program Designed To Place
20 Stores
KLNB Retail leads site selection and leasing activities that nets locations in Owings Mills and
downtown Baltimore
Baltimore, MD (May 16, 2006) – Cosi,
a premium convenience restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee, dinner and dessert
menus, has signed its first two leases in the Baltimore metropolitan region. The sites -- at Valley
Village shopping center in Owings Mills and 100 S. Charles Street in downtown Baltimore – represent
the opening volley of an expected entry program that will eventually feature twenty local locations
for the Deerfield, Illinois-based retailer that presently operates approximately 100 stores in
fifteen states.
KLNB Retail is the exclusive
leasing firm for Cosi, which features a new prototype layout of approximately 3000 square feet
of space and an open-flame stone hearth to bake its signature pocket bread. Ryan Wilner of KLNB
Retail is supervising the site selection and leasing activities on behalf of the company. The first
two stores are expected to be operational next month.
Cosi’s wide-ranging menu
features sandwiches, freshly tossed salads, Cosi melts, soups, bagels, pizza and an assortment
of dessert items. Its unique artisan bread, which is freshly baked in front of customers throughout
the day, envelopes all of its sandwiches, including best sellers Grilled Chicken T.B.M. and Tandoori
Chicken, which includes a blend of Eastern spices, roasted red peppers and Cosi vinaigrette.
“The atmosphere and quality
of food is several steps above the typical sandwich franchise that presently exists in the Baltimore
region,” stated Ryan Wilner of KLNB Retail. “Each Cosi location is fitted with open ceilings,
wood flooring and soft-seating to create an upscale and comfortable environment, and the food selections
emphasize quality ingredients and a differentiation from the average tuna sub with lettuce and tomato.
The sights and sounds of the interior is meant to create a tasteful and relaxed place,” he
added.
This menu differentiation is demonstrated
by items such as the Wasabi Roast Beef that includes pickled ginger, shredded romaine and wasabi mayonnaise;
Vegi Muffaletta, which includes grilled eggplant, banana peppers green onions and Parmesan cheese and
dessert items Cinnamon Apple Pie and S-mores.
KLNB Retail is presently negotiating
leases at approximately twelve additional locations in the local area, which they hope to conclude
by the end of the year. “Our prime target is affluent suburban areas as well as the metro
elite,” explained Wilner. “The restaurant prefers end-cap positions with healthy day-time
traffic, as well as high income and densities surrounding the site,” he added.
“Baltimore and the surrounding
counties represent a fertile expansion opportunity for us, as the area’s excellent demographic
profile perfectly matches our target consumer audience,” stated Derek Andersen, National
Director of Retail Estate for Cosi. “The population in the Baltimore region continues to
expand in pace with its outstanding job growth and there is an excellent supply of retail venues
that can support our store footprint and end-cap position preference. Together with our outstanding
success in the Washington, D.C. region, we are building an extremely successful brand in the Common
Market,” he added.
There are approximately twenty Cosi locations in the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia market, as well as units throughout California,
Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Washington and Wisconsin
NAI KLNB features more than 50 full-time real estate brokerage professionals and provides a full
range of brokerage, financial and investment services, property/facilities management and strategic
advisory services to the commercial office, industrial and retail sectors. KLNB maintains full-service
offices in Baltimore City, Towson and Columbia, MD, as well as Vienna, VA.
For additional information contact:
Larry Lichtenauer, LH&A, Inc. 410.719.3081
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