Hanley Investment Group Arranges Sales of New Construction Circle K and Starbucks Drive-Thru in Cathedral City, Calif., for $8 Million

July 09 08:38 2025
Hanley Investment Group Arranges Sales of New Construction Circle K and Starbucks Drive-Thru in Cathedral City, Calif., for $8 Million
Circle K Convenience Store (representative photo)

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, a nationally recognized real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in retail property sales, announced today that it has arranged the sales of two newly constructed, single-tenant retail properties at Cathedral Cove Center in downtown Cathedral City, Calif. The properties, occupied by Circle K and Starbucks, were sold in separate transactions to individual private buyers for a combined total of approximately $8 million.

Executive Vice Presidents Bill Asher and Jeff Lefko of Hanley Investment Group represented the seller and developer, Fountainhead Development, a Newport Beach, Calif.-based firm specializing in the development of high-quality retail and restaurant projects.

Circle K Convenience Store and Gas Station

The Circle K-leased property, located at 68835 East Palm Canyon Drive, sold for over $4.19 million. In this transaction, Hanley Investment Group’s Asher and Lefko represented the seller. The buyer, a private 1031 exchange investor from Ventura, Calif., was represented by Joe Ahearn of Pinnacle Estate Properties.

The 3,700-square-foot convenience store sits on a 1.08-acre pad and features a new 20-year absolute triple-net ground lease with 10% rental increases every five years. Circle K Stores, a subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard (S&P: BBB+), operates more than 16,800 stores globally, including over 7,100 in the U.S. The company ranks #2 in CSP Magazine’s “Top 40 C-Store Chains” (2024) and #2 in Franchise Chatter’s “Top Convenience Store Franchises” (2024).

“We generated multiple qualified offers within the first 30 days of marketing due to the rare 20-year initial lease term and outstanding location on Highway 111, the main retail corridor connecting the Coachella Valley,” Asher said. “We successfully executed a pre-sale marketing strategy, procured a buyer while the property was still under construction, and closed escrow before the tenant began paying rent and before Circle K opened for business.” Circle K is slated to open in fall of 2025.

“Essential retail assets like corporate-leased convenience stores with a fuel station continue to attract strong investor interest,” Asher said. “Their long-term leases, daily-use appeal, and resilience in all economic cycles make them a preferred choice for buyers seeking dependable income.”

Starbucks Café and Drive-Thru

The Starbucks property, located at 68995 East Palm Canyon Drive, sold for $3.7 million. Hanley Investment Group’s Asher and Lefko also represented the seller in this transaction. The buyer, a private investor in a 1031 exchange from Roseville, Calif., was represented by Alexander Moore of SRS Real Estate Partners.

The 1,900-square-foot café sits on a 0.79-acre pad and is leased to Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX; S&P: A-) under a new 10-year triple-net lease with 10% rental increases every five years and four five-year renewal options.

“We secured a buyer who was excited to add the property to their portfolio and knew the area well, having recently purchased another net-leased investment in the Coachella Valley,” Asher said. “Similar to the Circle K sale in the same development, we executed a pre-sale strategy by procuring the buyer while the property was still under construction and closed escrow before the tenant began paying rent and before Starbucks opened for business.”

Starbucks operates approximately 38,000 stores in 84 countries and has been named one of Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 16 consecutive years, including 2024. According to Asher, drive-thru locations account for 60% to 70% of quick-service restaurant sales, and Starbucks stores with drive-thrus average 50% higher sales than non-drive-thru locations.

Record-Setting Chipotle Sale

In January 2025, Hanley Investment Group also arranged the sale of a newly constructed Chipotle Mexican Grill Drive-Thru at Cathedral Cove Center. The 2,325-square-foot property, located on a 0.65-acre parcel, sold for $4.05 million to a Los Angeles-based, all-cash 1031 exchange buyer. The sale closed within 30 days, prior to rent commencement or store opening, and achieved a record-low cap rate for a single-tenant Chipotle nationwide in 2025.

About Cathedral Cove Center

Cathedral Cove Center is located in an Opportunity Zone at the signalized intersection of East Palm Canyon Drive/Highway 111 and Date Palm Drive, one of Coachella Valley’s busiest intersections with over 55,000 cars per day. The center is directly across from the 125,000-square-foot Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, ranked in the top 2% of U.S. casinos based on consumer traffic, according to Placer.ai.

The tenant lineup at the Cathedral Cove Center includes a Farmer Boys Drive-Thru restaurant (coming soon for sale), along with previously sold pads leased to Circle K, Starbucks, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. A new residential development is planned directly behind the property.

The Coachella Valley is home to four casinos and more than 130 golf courses. It attracts over 14 million annual visitors and hosts world-renowned events such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (540,000+ attendees), Stagecoach Festival (80,000+), Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival (315,000)), BNP Paribas Open (475,000), and the American Express PGA Golf Tournament (7,000+).

“Investor appetite for new-construction, net-leased retail remains strong, especially in infill Southern California markets,” Asher noted. “Our strategic break-up and pre-sale execution across multiple transactions at Cathedral Cove demonstrates the depth of demand for best-in-class, daily-needs retail with corporate tenancy and strong fundamentals.”

About Hanley Investment Group

Celebrating 20 years, Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors is a real estate brokerage and advisory services company with a $12 billion transaction track record that specializes in the sale of retail properties nationwide. Our expertise, proven track record, and unwavering dedication to putting clients” needs first set us apart in the industry. Hanley Investment Group creates value by delivering exceptional results through the use of property-specific marketing strategies, cutting-edge technology, and local market knowledge. Our nationwide relationships with investors, developers, institutions, franchisees, brokers, and 1031 exchange buyers are unparalleled in the industry, translating into maximum exposure and pricing for each property. With unmatched service, Hanley Investment Group has redefined the experience of selling retail investment properties.

For more information, visit www.hanleyinvestment.com.

Media Contact
Company Name: Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors
Contact Person: Bill Asher, Executive Vice President
Email: Send Email
Phone: 949.585.7684
Address:3500 East Coast Highway, Suite 100
City: Corona del Mar
State: California
Country: United States
Website: https://hanleyinvestmentgroup.com/