News
Retail Rocks!
October 30, 2009
| Hudson Terrace was the place to be last night if you're in retail. Over 400 real estate professionals, retailers, and related industries packed two floors of The Retail Network’s fourth major gathering. |
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| TRN founders: CB Richard Ellis’ Jayson Siano, The Fagen Group’s Stu Fagen, and Kimco’s Josh Weinkranz with party hostesses Luba and Taylor. Last night was the non-profit’s first event in Manhattan, and included a sold-out speed networking session. As part of its charitable mission, some of last night’s proceeds also went to support the American Cancer Society. |
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| Wonder who’s behind the shiny brochures and snazzy branding you see all around the industry? Look no further than Real Estate Arts’Lori Llewellyn, Stacy Orta, Michael Goodgold, Ellen Bonalsky, and Julie George. Prez Michael tells us that REA just helped the Retail Network with its rebranding, and is collaborating with Blackstone and Robert K. Futterman Associates to brand space at 1095 Avenue of the Americas and SL Green and Jeff Sutton to brand space at 717 Fifth. |
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| Whitestone Associates’ Thomas Uzzo and Keith D’Ambrosio flank Control Point Associates’ Richard Butkus. Today's market is about staying afloat, they note. Was it any coincidence that the event was held a block away from the Hudson River and the USS Intrepid? (In keeping with the nautical theme, these guys asked us if we were a roaming cruise ship photographer who would charge $45 for their photo later, but we assured them that Bisnow is still free.) |
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| CoStar’s Todd Zimmerman and Brendan Collins, with hostesses Samantha, Hayley, and Tatiana, certainly have impressive resumes. In addition to working for the information, marketing, and analytic firm, Todd’s a classically trained guitarist and fly fisher, while Brendan’s an improv comedian for Chicago City Limits. Look for his next show on Nov. 14 (and don’t forget Bisnow when you make it to SNL, Brendan). |
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| NAI Friedland’s Robin Herko, KOH Architecture’s Dinah Klamert, and attorney Lisa Pace. Robin and colleagues Steve Lorenzo and David Scotto recently went on a Bronx and Westchester leasing spree, representing IHOP in a 20-year, 5k-SF lease at 2550 Central Park Ave. in Yonkers and Key Foods in a 20-year 11k-SF lease at 3035 White Plains Rd. in the Bronx, as well as requirements for Verizon FiOS, Bella Beauty Supply, and Rockford Jamerican Restaurant & Bakery. |
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| Star Commercial’s Leslie Navarro, T-Mobile’s Tom Bruchalski, the aforementioned Steve Lorenzo, and Saugatuck Construction’s Chester Wojcik. Chester reports that the Connecticut retail market is still quite active—Fairfield is growing, New Haven is picking up, and Hartford is still as strong as ever. He’s working on several Family Dollar deals right now, and tells us that discount stores, family dining, and megaplex theaters are the hot subsectors |
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| Ferrandino & Son Contractors’ Steve Vollrath, Dave Karcher, and Peter Ferrandino with Bohler Engineering’s Joseph Deal. Ferrandino just opened two new branch offices—one in Philly (we’re surprised anyone would admit that during this World Series) and another in Charlotte. Meanwhile, they’re gearing up for snow removal seasons—they’re contracted to remove all the white stuff from Cumberland Farms parking lots throughout the Northeast—and building up 7-Elevens, the most recent which opened in Melville, Long Island, three days ago. |
