Stiles Realty announced today that Carolina Business Interiors (CBI), a premier business furniture solutions provider, will open its first retail store in Florida at 337 East Las Olas Blvd. at the Plaza at Las Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The company signed a lease for 2,034 square feet of ground floor office and showroom space in the Las Olas office corridor at the intersection of Third Ave and Las Olas Blvd. Stiles Realty Director of Real Estate Norm Adams, and Realty Associate, Brad Dineen, represented the landlord, Third Avenue Associates, Ltd., in the transaction.

“With more than 3.5 million square feet of office space in the immediate area, the Plaza at Las Olas presents a valuable opportunity for CBI to tap into new business opportunities,” said Adams.

CBI’s lease helps to further cement Fort Lauderdale’s, and particularly Las Olas Boulevard’s, position as the preferred location for companies seeking to enter the South Florida market. While the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company has long served clients in Florida, this will be their first showroom in the state.

“CBI, a Knoll Dealer, is thrilled to expand our business in the business epicenter of downtown Fort Lauderdale,” said Dan Buchweitz, CBI Executive Vice President. “Our Las Olas storefront will allow us to showcase our unique product and brand and better serve our clients in the tri-county area.”

Along with this lease, the company recently opened a temporary office on the second floor of Stiles’ headquarters building at 301 East Las Olas Boulevard while Stiles Tenant Improvement Services readies their permanent space, which is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014.

“We are very pleased to have been able to accommodate CBI’s immediate need and give them a head start on capturing the professional business market that thrives here,” said Adams.

Established in 1993, CBI offers concept-to-completion office solutions for an array of organizations and industries. With existing locations in North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina, this newest location marks CBI’s seventh showroom. It will serve as a live learning center for business operators and other clients, branded and outfitted with CBI’s specialty products, including Knoll and DIRTT solutions.

The Plaza at Las Olas is located at the corner of Third Avenue and Las Olas Blvd. Originally built in the 1940’s, the structure has been expanded and renovated multiple times to achieve its stunning contemporary look featuring full length windows, crisp interior and exterior finishes and clean lines. Its most recent transformation in 2010 took it from Spanish Mediterranean style architecture to modern. Tenants include Fanatics Inc. and Stiles, both of which maintain headquarters space in the buildings, Templeton & Company CPA firm, and Yolo restaurant and Vibe night club on the ground floor.

 

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