Karl Blass This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Rhea County Online

   www.rhea.xtn.net/index.php?tem - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/4/2005   Last Visited: 12/5/2005

   The shopping center's new owner is experienced in reclaiming shopping centers vacated by Wal-Mart and other "big box" stores, according to Karl Blass, vice president of Blue Ridge Capital Corp.
   
   "We specialize in buying distressed properties-vacant buildings and Wal-Mart shopping centers left empty after the big box stores leave," said Blass. "We believe the [Rhea County Shopping Center] property has the potential to be leased, and there are some people we are talking with who we think would be a good fit. I think we will see some new tenants in there by the first part of the new year."
   
   Blass would not speculate on what type of tenant might occupy the shopping center, but he explained that Blue Ridge Capital specialized in neighborhood retail centers and would seek tenants that would be a "good fit" with the Rhea County market.
   
   "Our goal is to find the highest and best use for the property, but obviously it's not making any money if it's sitting there doing nothing, so we will try to get our lease department on it as quickly as possible," Blass said.