Beth Azor

Could a direct conversation with a prospect or tenant save your next lease from falling apart? In Episode 94 of I Own A Shopping Center Now What, Beth Azor explains why shopping center owners must remain personally involved in the most important parts of their business, even when they have leasing brokers and property managers handling day-to-day operations. Beth shares how direct conversations wi...

Should landlords trust a franchisor’s approval process when replacing a failed franchise tenant? Beth Azor says absolutely not. In Episode 93 of I Own A Shopping Center Now What, Beth Azor breaks down the realities landlords face when franchise tenants struggle or fail. From declining sales and replacement franchisees to franchisor pressure and personal guarantees, Beth explains why landlords must...

Thinking about turning your vacant retail space into a food hall? Beth Azor says that could be a very expensive mistake. In Episode 92 of I Own A Shopping Center Now What, Beth Azor breaks down why the rapid rise of food halls across the country may not be the opportunity many shopping center owners believe it is. While food halls appear trendy and exciting, Beth explains that most owners dramatic...

Could your vacancies be sitting empty simply because nobody notices they exist? In Episode 91 of I Own A Shopping Center Now What, Beth Azor explains why signage is one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in retail leasing. From “coming soon” banners for major tenants like J.Crew to creative billboard placements, elbow-space signage, and second-floor office visibility, Beth shares practical...

Are you giving your leasing broker enough time to succeed, or holding on too long when it's clearly not working? In Episode 90 of I Own A Shopping Center Now What, I break down exactly how to manage, evaluate, and if necessary, replace third-party leasing brokers. Many owners either panic too early or wait far too long, and I explain why a minimum six-month runway is critical before expecting...

What separates a broker who just lists your deal from one who actually gets it sold? In this episode, I walk through the exact questions I ask before hiring an investment sales broker—and trust me, it’s not about who has the most listings. It’s about who has the relationships, the database, and the ability to pick up the phone and bring real buyers to the table. A great broker is already working y...

What if your vacancies aren’t sitting because of the market—but because you’re not visible in it? In this episode, I talk about what I see all the time in smaller markets. Owners assume there aren’t enough tenants, but the real issue is they’re not connected to the local business community. If you want to lease space faster, you need to start where you are—your own backyard. That means getting out...

Are you running your shopping center like you’re going to own it forever—or like you’re hoping the buyer doesn’t look too closely? In this episode, I talk about a mistake I see all the time with investors planning a quick flip. They buy a value-add center, lease up the vacancy, and plan to sell in a year or two—but they ignore the operations. Deferred maintenance, poor responsiveness, and cutting...

How do you quietly acquire 60 properties in one market before anyone else even realizes what you’re doing? In this episode, I break down one of the smartest acquisition strategies I’ve heard—shared at a retail conference—and why it works so well. An investor mapped out 400 properties across a target area, raised capital, and then did something most people wouldn’t think to do: they hired multiple...

Want to sharpen your leasing skills in five minutes a day? Here’s one of my favorite shortcuts: follow the right people on Twitter. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly who I follow and why. From Strip Mall Guy and CRE Daily to Matt Bertram and The Shopping Center Lawyer, these are voices that keep me thinking, learning, and sometimes even debating. I don’t agree with everyone 100% of the time—and...

Are Cameras Protecting You—Or Putting You at Risk? Let’s talk security. After dealing with a lawsuit tied to broken camera footage at one of my centers, I made a decision: No cameras on my properties. Why? Because if they don’t work 100% of the time—and they rarely do—you’re opening yourself up to liability, not avoiding it. In this episode, I break down why I don’t install cameras, how I handle t...

In this episode of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What? , I’m answering a powerful question from a longtime owner who’s spent 30 years pouring into his property — and is now ready to step back. No family successor, no plan to sell yet… just a desire to protect what he built and find someone who will care about the asset and the tenants the way he does. I’ve walked that exact road — stepping into a l...

In Episode 82 of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What?, Beth Azor breaks down how to navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of inheriting a shopping center — especially when a sale isn’t possible for several years due to trust or estate constraints. Beth offers candid advice to heirs dealing with broker pressure, explains why paying for a proper BOV (broker opinion of value) sets healthy bou...

In this episode of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What? , I break down a lesson I teach over and over again— don’t trust outdated online data to guide your leasing strategy . I recently walked a market where CoStar claimed there was 10% vacancy… but when I hit the pavement, it was closer to 30%. That’s a huge difference—and it’s the kind of thing that could kill your deal velocity, pricing strategy,...

When it comes to leasing your shopping center, sticking to the “one broker to do it all” mentality could be your biggest mistake. In this episode of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What? , I’m challenging the conventional wisdom that says one broker can handle every type of vacancy. From big-box spaces to restaurant outparcels, medical offices, and second-floor spaces—each requires specialized expert...

What do Wine Enthusiast pop-ups, perfume clusters, and Soho sidewalks have in common? For Beth Azor—everything. In this episode, Beth Azor shares takeaways from her recent trip to New York City for ICSC and a surprise game-changing experience: a guided Retail Safari through Soho. From trend-spotting new brands to seeing firsthand how tenant mix and experiential design shape leasing success, Beth b...

Just because you’re tough doesn’t mean you can’t be strategic. In this episode, I walk you through exactly when I get lenient on deals—and when I hold firm. I share real examples of consulting projects where the key to successful leasing wasn’t about lowering rent across the board—it was about understanding demand. From turning down a bank on Main Street to repositioning office tenants during a su...

A broker from a national pizza chain asked me to extend their lease and lower their rent by $5/SF. But instead of panicking, I asked a better question: “Would they be open to leaving instead?” In this episode, I break down the full story—and why more landlords need to stop reacting from fear and start thinking strategically. From understanding tenant exclusives in the market to knowing when to cal...

What would you risk to win the deal of a lifetime? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes story of one of the most competitive acquisitions of my career—where I took a $30,000 gamble before getting the deal, beat out five other buyers, and closed in just three days. And yes, I turned a former strip club into a retail center generating $740,000 in NOI. This wasn’t luck—it was strategy,...

In this episode, I break down a real-life situation that perfectly illustrates what happens when business goals steamroll smart real estate fundamentals. A doctor poured $2.5 million into renovating a two-story office building— without addressing the fact that the property only has six parking spaces. Six! Before signing a single lease. I walk you through the candid coaching conversation I had wit...

Thinking of turning that vacant Dollar Tree into a food hall? Hit pause—this episode might save you a fortune. Food halls are trendy, flashy, and tempting—especially when you’re sitting on 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of empty space. But after seeing too many landlords lose big, I’m here to sound the alarm. In this episode, I break down why most food halls fail, the false promises they offer, and w...

Before you blame the broker—check the agreement. When I bring on a third-party leasing broker, I know my success depends on my systems just as much as their effort. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how I structure broker relationships to keep leasing activity transparent, accountable, and productive. From the interview questions I ask to uncover true canvassing habits, to the monthly rep...

Feeling stuck in your leasing? Here's how to get things moving again. In this episode, I share how I helped one of my shopping centers generate major leasing momentum by bringing our entire team—property manager, broker, attorney, and ownership—together for a single, strategic call. You’ll hear how just one meeting led to five major leasing wins, and why alignment and accountability matter more th...

In Episode 71 of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What?, Beth Azor shares a powerful lesson from the field: when brokers and cold calls fall flat, in-person canvassing still wins. After consulting for a client struggling to lease retail space in a mixed-use development, Beth flew in, walked the neighborhood, and landed a showing—all within two hours. In this episode, she breaks down why canvassing is...

If you're handing off your leasing to a third-party broker, don’t assume they’ll just get the job done— you have to manage the process like a boss. In this episode of I Own a Shopping Center. Now What? , I walk you through exactly how I coach multifamily and mixed-use owners on hiring the right retail broker. After a recent call with some friends trying to lease their ground-floor retail, I re...