It was a whirlwind trip through shopping centers and a social occasion all rolled into three busloads of landlord reprsentatives, potential tenants and retail-friendly business people. Thursday, was the inaugural Retail Bus Tour for Palm Beach County. The buses rolled out of Boca Raton around 8:30 a.m., headed up to Jupiter and then back south by 5:30 p.m. About 160 people – most from South Florida – got a look at 30 percent of the commercial retail centers in the county offering 100,000 square feet or more of space. But more than that, many met the voices on the phone they had done deals Broidls with and maybe their next partner in a deal.
Gary Broidis and partner Larry Brooks began offering the tours in Broward and Miami-Dade County late last year. They devised the bus tours because they saw a need to bring people in the retail industry together and give them a look at the properties in the market. “Outside of industry events put on, there are very few opportunities to network with people in the industry, and more than networking, see the market,” Broidis said. As Marc Boucher, president of SEC Commercial Realty Group, pointed out, Palm Beach County is a large county.
Many leasing agents haven’t seen what all is out there. “It actually gives you an idea of what’s available in the marketplace today – a snapshot,” he said. So, are people signing deals? Yes. But the market is still soft, he said. “You have people looking again,” Boucher said. Clearly some major retailers, such as hhgregg, entered the county recently. And yogurt shops are hot again – every shopping center needs one. Colorful approach: Participants lightened the mood with costumes. Andrew Guzik of Thur Associates took part in the fun with his rainbow-colored hat.
About 160 people on the tour got a look at 30 percent of the commercial centers in Palm Beach County offering 100,000 square feet or more of retail space, and several other locations in the near future. Retailers and their leasing agents are optimistic people. And on this tour, they had people ready to move into the market. “This is my territory,” he said. “It’s a good way to learn the demographics, compare prices and build relationships.” In between information on square footage. demographics and anchor retailers from a moderator was goofy hats. karaoke and bad jokes.
Matthew Livingston, real estate manager for Tijuana Flats Bunito Co., is looking for seven to 10 locations in South Florida to open in the next 12 months. “Everyone in retail is great.” Livingston said. Costumes, anyone?: Beth Azor, of Azor Advisory Services, hands out costumes to others on her bus after lunch at The Village Shoppes in North Palm Beach on Thursday.
The Retail Bus Tour took 160 retail industry people to commercial centers from Boca Raton to Jupiter to look at retail space. “It’s a good opportunity to network,” he said of the tour. “It opens up Retail bus tour doors to new sites, new leads.” Marc Nudel is ready to open a Dr. G’s WeUness medical weight loss center in Wellington by the year’s end.