In 1969, H. Robert Barr struck out on his own after ten years with AG as the head of New Store Development and created Center Investments, Inc....
....during an active period of expansion for independent grocers throughout Washington. The combination of Bob’s business & real estate skill set, renewed retail demand in the market and available property around Curtis C Thriftway & Eastmont Center allowed for the concept of an enclosed mall. Over an 8 year period the Wenatchee Valley Mall became a reality, with Center Investments as developer and general partner of Eastmont Enterprises which owned the very successful mall for 20 years. Center Investments was widely associated with the Wenatchee Valley Mall however Bob continued those development efforts on grocery stores, Cost Cutter Stores and others, office buildings and an assortment of retail projects through the 1970’s & 80’s. During that time Bob and Doreen’s raised three sons in East Wenatchee, the youngest was Dan. After college Dan went to work at Center Investments and learned accounting, property management, leasing and development. In 1986 the Wenatchee Valley Mall was in need of a manager, Bob found Dan to be a great fit and gave him the job. Dan became president of Center Investments in 1990 and guided the mall through some turbulent times with constant threat of new retail competition. The mall sold in 1993 amidst grand expansion plans, Dan & Center Investments continued as manager for two other owners of the property until 2003.
Center Investments managed the most complex retail property and had the most extensive contact with retailers in the region making the progression into 3rd party management, retail brokerage and development very natural. Center Investments provided project leasing services for Center Oak Properties through the redevelopment of both the Wenatchee Valley Mall & the Valley North Center in Wenatchee as well as the Valley Mall in Union Gap. Over a 6 years period working with Center Oak we obtained more than 100 retail leases for these projects including tenants like Gap, American Eagle, Eddie Bauer, Buckle, Bed Bath & Beyond and many others.
More recently Center Investments turned its attention to developing small retail buildings. Between 2007 and 2009 we developed 3 multi-tenant buildings, one in Omak (Starbucks strip), another is East Wenatchee (Mattress Outlet and others) and the latest in Wenatchee (Great Harvest Bread). Additionally our combination of commercial real estate experience and reputation as pragmatic advisors has earned us increasingly more consulting work for businesses entering into or shifting within our markets.
As Center Investments moves forward our goal is to position ourselves as the pre-eminent commercial brokerage and management services provider as well as a capable development partner and consultant throughout the North Central Washington region. Owners & tenants of office & retail properties will find true value in utilizing the knowledge & advice included with our services.
Click here for a detailed timeline of our 40-year history.