Everything old is new again in single-tenant retail real estate, where old standards such as drug stores and auto parts dealers are leading the way in nationwide expansion.

The top five tenants growing across the country are Rite Aid Corporation, Walgreen Company, AutoZone Inc., McDonald's Corporation and CVS Corporation, according to Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company's "Single-Tenant, Net Lease Research Report."

For the second year in a row, drug stores are undertaking more new construction than any other market segment. Rite Aid alone has 500 stores in the planning or start phases of construction. And note that three of the top five companies listed above are purveyors of cough syrup and cotton balls.

The drugstore sector was the most active retail category in every region of the country except the Midwest, where auto supply stores were dominant.

With the aging of the population, drug stores are poised to remain profitable well into the next century as the customer base increases. The number of Americans older than 60 is expected to increase from almost 30 million this year to nearly 50 million by 2015. As this group ages, the increasing need for pharmaceuticals will ensure the continued profitability of drugstores.

Drug store construction is most dominant in the Northeast, where drug stores are the leading construction sector type in every state in the region. The most active stores are CVS Corporation and Rite Aid Corporation, with Eckerd making a strong showing.

AutoZone, ranked third on the list, has more than 2,700 retail outlets in 38 states, with 450 new stores currently in development. The company is the nation's largest retailer of auto parts and accessories.

And every 5-year-old's favorite, McDonald's continues its march to world dominance, with more than 300 stores being built in 41 states.

According to Marcus & Millichap, 60 percent of single-tenant properties currently being built are in the start phase, while 7 percent are in the bidding stage and 34 percent are in various planning stages.

The strong economy, a healthy retail market and high consumer confidence have led to continued demand for the products and services offered by single-tenant, net lease tenants and have permitted ongoing expansion. An unbelievable 7,600 single-tenant properties entered the start stage during 1998 and early 1999.

Most regions of the country reflect the national trend of expansion among food, drug and auto parts stores. The Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions are the most active for new construction, with almost 1,900 retail single-tenant, net-lease projects started in the last year. Another 1,000 projects are in various planning stages.

The most active sector in the region is drug stores, with Walgreen the leading tenant. Walgreen has more than 162 new projects started or planned in states in the Mid-Atlantic.

New York is experiencing the most building in the Northeast, with 353 new projects under construction. More than one-third of the state's single-tenant, net lease construction is taking place in New York City and Nassau-Suffolk, Long Island. AutoZone is also an active tenant in New York. The chain currently has more than 30 new stores under construction in seven metropolitan areas in the state, targeted for completion this summer.

The Northwest region had the least new single-tenant retail construction during the last year. In other news, a federal judge last week ordered the arrest of a Cuban businessman who illegally uses the name RE/MAX in his real estate operations.

Senior District Judge John L. Kane found Stephen Anthony Marshall in contempt of court for violating a prior order that had prohibited Marshall from operating under the name RE/MAX Havana or RE/MAX Cuba.

The trademark violation was a particularly painful one for RE/MAX which, in addition to wanting to protect its name from unwarranted use, did not want to appear as though it were illegally conducting operations in Cuba. United States businesses are largely prohibited from doing business in the Communist country, despite recent efforts to open trade relations between the two nations.

"We are pleased with the action of the court," said Daryl Jesperson, president of RE/MAX International. "RE/MAX is not doing business in Cuba and despite statements attributed to Mr. Marshall has never authorized any entity to use the RE/MAX tradename in Cuba. We will not allow anyone to use the RE/MAX name illegally and will vigorously protect it on behalf of more than 56,000 affiliates throughout the world."

Getting to the Cuban imposter to ensure his arrest is another matter entirely. But he sure has an American-style name.