Gantry, the largest independent commercial mortgage banking firm in the U.S., has secured a $26.05 million bridge loan to refinance maturing debt for the Civic Center Plaza retail center located in Simi Valley, CA. The 145,000-square-foot property sits on 11.5 acres and offers nearly 1,000 parking spaces. Anchor tenants include a renovated Regal IMAX Cinema and a new grocer set to open next year. A partial list of other notable tenants includes nationally recognized food operators like Starbucks, Panda Express, and Carl’s Jr, two credit unions, and an Unleashed by Petco location.

Gantry’s Mark Ritchie, Principal, and Austin Ridge, Associate, with the firm’s Los Angeles (El Segundo) production office, represented the borrower, a private real estate operator. The three-year, non-recourse loan with variable rate and interest-only terms was provided by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group (“Fortress”), a leading, highly diversified global investment manager. 

According to Gantry’s Mark Ritchie, “This is a high-quality retail center in a strong local submarket. The property faced a unique situation where the timing of a new grocer’s opening and other tenant lease maturities coincided with the existing loan’s maturity, creating a refinance challenge. Working closely with the existing lender (a Gantry correspondent insurance company) and sponsor, our Gantry team was able to negotiate a viable extension. Then, working with the sponsor as they resolved these timing issues, we engaged Fortress, a seasoned institutional lender with more than two decades of real estate financing experience, to underwrite an effective bridge solution for the extended maturity. This loan provides a clear path to stabilization and includes funding for future leasing and tenant improvement budgets.”

About Fortress Investment Group

Fortress Investment Group LLC is a leading, highly diversified global investment manager. Founded in 1998, Fortress manages $51 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025, on behalf of approximately 2,000 institutional clients and private investors worldwide across a range of credit and real estate, private equity and permanent capital investment strategies. AUM refers to assets Fortress manages, including capital that Fortress has the right to call from investors, or investors are otherwise required to contribute, pursuant to their capital commitments to various funds or managed accounts. For more information, please visit www.fortress.com.