WestRidge Realty Advisors and Dividend Capital Total Realty Trust beat out several major prospects for the package, according to sources. One called the likelihood of the partnership's selection as 100% and another concurred that the partnership has won out. "They do," that source said when asked if the two firms have control of the deal. WestRidge is a Connecticut-based investment firm focused on retail properties, while Dividend Capital is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Denver.

The portfolio is being brokered by Jones Lang LaSalle's Boston investment team, led by retail specialist James Koury. JLL, Dividend Capital and WestRidge officials did not respond to phone calls by press deadline, while Tedeschi President Terrence Tedeschi is unavailable, according to a company spokeswoman who explains he is in Las Vegas for the International Council of Shopping Centers' spring convention. The woman indicated that a buyer has been named, but said she was unsure who that group was, and offered that the P&S has not been signed. One source maintained that the buyers are eager to cement the deal and predicted the process will move to a quick conclusion. Sources maintain that the winner had been pitted for at least one week against one suitor in the finalist round, supposedly an entity from New York.

Tedeschi Realty is a family owned company that has built an extensive network of convenience stores, retail centers and large shopping plazas throughout New England. The firm is retaining most of the convenience stores, but assembled the 26 properties into three blocks earlier this year and hired Koury to either find separate buyers for each package or one player to take down the trio, the path WestRidge and Dividend have apparently chosen.