Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook

Kien Tsoi, regional director of leasing for Dollar Tree, talks about what it takes for a retailer to surpass 9,000 stores in North America. Kien talks about his background in retail brokerage and the unique shopping experience that Dollar Tree offers. He also speaks to the competition he faces for retail spaces and the impact of economic conditions on value retail.  James Cook is the Director of R...

Andy Weiner, President of RockStep Capital discusses his unique strategy of involving local investors and community bank lending to invest in open air and enclosed shopping centers. Andy shares insights from his background in retail and explains how RockStep mitigates risks by fostering strong local partnerships. He also delves into the company's principles, known as 'Rock Steps,' which guide thei...

Jennifer Schuler, CEO talks about the storied history of  Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, from Alice Handel's dedication to quality ice cream starting in 1945 in Ohio, to today's franchise-driven expansion. Jennifer shares her own career journey from General Mills to Wetzel's Pretzels, highlighting her passion for the food industry. The conversation touches on the Handel's growth strategy, focus on q...

Don Tepman, better known as 'StripMallGuy,' talks candidly about his rise to social media fame in the retail real estate world. Don discusses his beginnings in real estate, his years of anonymous posting, and the decision to reveal his identity. He shares his strategies for selecting and managing properties, focusing on mom-and-pop tenants, the challenges and rewards of revitalizing strip centers,...

James Cook discusses the successful collaboration between the city of Yorba Linda, California, and Zelman Development in creating the Yorba Linda Town Center. Featuring insights from Colleen Callahan, the Economic Development Manager for the city, and Brett Foy of Zelman Development, the conversation explores the project's conception, early challenges, and the cooperative efforts that led to its r...

Alex Zikakis is President of Capstone Advisors, which invests in retail and flex properties, mainly in Southern California, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. Alex shares the evolution of Capstone over 28 years, from its initial opportunistic real estate investing to its current strategy of 'buy, fix, and keep'. He discusses the surprising similarities between retail and industrial flex properties and t...

Hear what happened on the ICSC showroom floor with Brixmor Property Group's David Spawn, Tanger Outlet's Laura Fullington, Nuveen's Ana Leon and Big V Property Group's Mike Jordan. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify   Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com   YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail...

Tanger CEO Stephen Yalof discusses the pivotal changes in Tanger's retail real estate strategy with JLL's Naveen Jaggi. Originally an outlet center company, Tanger is now pivoting towards experience-focused, full-price centers. Yalof outlines how post-COVID dynamics, such as the popularity of open-air environments and the addition of food and lifestyle experiences, inform this shift. The discussio...

Gregg Katz is the Director of Business Industry Solutions for Real Estate at ESRI. He's also a lover of nostalgic retail brands. Gregg talks about his series of articles on defunct retailers and restaurants, such as Blockbuster Video, Service Merchandise, and Planet Hollywood. He reveals overarching lessons from these companies' highs and lows, including the dangers of rapid growth, staying true t...

Nishant Jain is CEO of Presso, a company with a self-service machine that autonomously cleans, deodorizes, refreshes, and presses garments in about five minutes. Jain explains how Presso's technology simplifies traditional, labor-intensive dry cleaning processes and makes them more efficient and environmentally friendly. He explores potential applications in different real estate settings, from ap...

George Banks of Revel is an experience-driven retail real estate veteran. He talks about the elements that make for a great retail street and successful food hall. He explores the importance of location, density, and the right tenant mix in both scenarios. He shares insights from the various projects his company has worked on across the country and provides a nuanced perspective on pedestrian stre...

Winston Fisher and Michael Beneville talk about the latest at Area 15, an immersive entertainment district in Las Vegas. They discuss the project's inception, the role of key attractions like Meow Wolf, and the unique blend of experiences that make it more than a typical entertainment venue. The interview covers Area 15's approach to creating a dynamic visitor experience through strategic curation...

Alex Patterson is founder and CEO of Beat The Bomb, an interactive entertainment venue inspired by action movies and team-building games. The concept combines mission-based challenges with a paint bomb finale. Patterson shares insights on the business's growth, ideal real estate, and target demographics. The conversation covers Beat the Bomb's unique gaming rooms, their formation inspired his expe...

Bucky Mabe, CEO of FACE Amusement Group talks about his family's history in the amusement business, the importance of innovative branding, and strategic planning. He delves into FACE's recent acquisition and redevelopment of Myrtle Beach Mall, blending unique entertainment experiences with traditional retail. The episode covers challenges and successes in the amusement industry, touching on market...

Lauren Ball, COO of Westwood Financial, talks about the company's $1.6 billion retail real estate portfolio, which includes about 125 centers, primarily in the Sunbelt states. Lauren highlights some standout properties, like Glenwood Park in Atlanta and Paradise Valley Shopping Center in Phoenix, explaining their unique attributes and tenant mixes. She also delves into the strategic growth decisio...

Nate Minnis is the Head of Real Estate for Smalls Sliders. Nate shares his journey from working at Subway to leading real estate strategies for multiple franchise brands, including Smalls Sliders. He discusses the unique aspects of the Smalls Sliders concept, its growth driven by simplicity and modular design, and the key factors for choosing optimal locations. He also touches upon challenges he f...

Joe Kunigonis, CEO of Smartify Media talks about the ways that commercial property owners can monetize digital screens. He delves into the programmatic and targeted advertising capabilities of this medium, explaining the infrastructure and advantages of digital signage. He also covers the challenges and opportunities in both indoor and outdoor retail spaces, and the future implications of this tec...

Nick Hodge is CEO of Essential Growth Properties. Nick shares insights from his extensive background in the supermarket industry and details Essential Growth's focus on acquiring, building, and operating grocery-anchored shopping centers nationwide. The discussion explores current investment opportunities in secondary and tertiary markets, the operational goals for Essential Growth, and the value...

Zach Gelfand is Head of Property for Funlab, an Australia-based entertainment company. He talks about the company's unique entertainment concepts, including Holy Moley and Hijinx Hotel, and the company's expansion from Australia to the United States. Zach discusses Funlab's distinct blend of bar, restaurant, and entertainment elements, their innovative employee culture, and the differences in real...

Lane Chaplin talks about Hyperfuel's unique approach to electric vehicle charging stations. Hyperfuel is building a network of fast-charging stations in the U.S., with a focus on locations near retail and dining establishments to incentivize shopping and dining while charging. He discusses the company's use of personalized incentives through their Hyperfuel app and the benefits of high-speed Level...

David McGlinchey is Chief Strategy Officer at Sprouts Farmers Market. He discusses Sprouts' unique positioning as a specialty market focusing on organic, vegan, and gluten-free products. He explains Sprouts' growth strategy, customer demographics, and how the company plans to expand into new territories. He also highlights how Sprouts differentiates itself from competitors. Additionally, he touche...

Christine Mastandrea is COO of Whitestone REIT, which owns 55 shopping centers in Texas and Arizona. She discusses her unique philosophy about retail real estate;  Whitestone's strategy of acquiring smaller, community-centric properties in high-growth markets; and how understanding neighborhoods through data analytics and psychographics drives their decisions. The conversation covers the increasin...

Daniel Russo leads Building Engines, a property management software platform owned by JLL. He explains how the software connects tenants and property teams, facilitates maintenance, tracks utility usage, and manages vendor interactions. He also elaborates on adapting the software for retail properties, the differences between managing retail and office spaces, and integration of AI tools to enhanc...

George Papageorge, a seasoned retail development executive, outlines the key roles essential for project success, including legal, leasing, and design professionals. He emphasizes the importance of assembling a diverse, locally-based team. George highlights the growing use of fractional executives, the value of early legal involvement, and the critical role of research and storytelling in project...

Kris Bjorson leads retail e-commerce distribution at JLL. He recaps a recent tour of two high-tech retail distribution centers in the Indianapolis area and explains how they represent current industry trends. The discussion covers warehouse automation, inventory management, and labor dynamics, as well as the broader shifts in retail supply chains in response to changing consumer habits and advance...