In The News

As a leader in the retail real estate industry, the experts at Baker Katz are often called on by local, regional and national media to comment on retail and development trends. Check out our latest news coverage.
Mar
09
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The Fixed is In

The growing appeal and prevalence of fixed CAM. At a time when so much of the retail industry is changing in very visible and sometimes dramatic ways in response to post-pandemic pressures and opportunities, one of
  • Kenneth Katz
Feb
17
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Retail Subleases, Benefits, and What to Watch Out For

Few retail landlords like the idea of vacant space in their centers. But sometimes a tenant defaults or vacates early, leaving behind dark space. One way to avoid this is when the tenant turns into a
  • Ben Brown
  • Connect CRE
  • Subleasing
Feb
09
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Developers grow industrial portfolios from Brookshire to southeast Houston

Woodside, a Fort Worth-based real estate fund manager, bought 12012 Wickchester, a 110,000-square-foot office building on 3.7 acres in the Energy Corridor. Marty Hogan and Kevin McConn of JLL Capital Markets represented the seller, CapRidge Partners.
  • Baybrook
  • Ben Brown
  • Houston Chronicle
Jan
22
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Someburger, Mod Pizza, Rakkan Ramen ink new leases

Someburger, a hamburger restaurant with locations in Baytown and the Heights, is expanding to Mont Belvieu. Somerealty purchased a 0.75-acre site on the northeast corner of Langston Drive and Edgeton Avenue in Mont Belvieu for the
  • American Family Care
  • Ben Brown
  • EōS Fitness
  • Jason Baker
  • John Frazier
  • The Houstonian News
Jan
17
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Inflation Deflation

Inflationary pressures are altering the retail development landscape It is not exactly breaking news to point out that inflation was one of the biggest economic storylines of 2022. At one point over the summer, the 12-month
  • Kenneth Katz
  • market trends
Nov
28
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Is Brick and mortar retail dead? Far from it, investors and retailers say

The pandemic was supposed to kill brick-and-mortar retail, which had struggled for years against online competitors. As stores shuttered and malls emptied, online shopping only became more entrenched, and customers only more accustomed to clicking, buying
  • Houston
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Houston Trends
  • Jason Baker
  • retail
Oct
21
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Real estate transactions: Retail land sells in Willis, Friendswood

by Katherine Feser Primo Fitness, a supplier of new and used high-end fitness equipment, has purchased a 71,438-square-foot office/warehouse on 4.6 acres at 701 Sycamore Road in Fresno. The company will relocate its operations from Santa
  • Ben Brown
  • Jason Baker
  • Willis
Sep
09
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5Qs for Jason Baker about retail expansion in Houston

Houston is big and getting bigger, says one of the top retail real estate brokers in the market. Retailers looking to expand in the Lone Star State think Dallas first. The rampant corporate and residential expansion
  • Chain Store Age
  • Food & Beverage
  • Houston
  • Jason Baker
Jul
29
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Baker Katz acquires, will improve business plaza in League City

by Jake Magee – Community Impact Commercial developer Baker Katz in late June announced the company had acquired a shopping center adjacent to the planned Riverview development at I-45 and Wesley Drive in League City. The
  • League City
  • property acquisitions
Jul
05
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Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar expanding to in Houston area

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, a chain patterned after a Rocky Mountain lodge serving comfort food, handcrafted cocktails and craft beers, is expanding in the Houston area. After opening in Cypress in 2019, the restaurant announce
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Lazy Dog
Jul
05
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Restaurant Roundup: New cantina opens on Washington; Phat Eatery coming to The Woodlands

It’s been a busy week for Restaurant Roundup, with new concepts entering Houston as well as local favorites and recent newcomers expanding. Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar expanding in Houston area California-based Lazy Dog Restaurant &
  • HBJ
  • Jason Baker
  • Phat Eatery
Jun
27
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Baker Katz buys League City retail center near future destination developments

By Florian Martin – ReporterHouston Business Journal Houston-based commercial real estate firm Baker Katz has acquired a shopping center adjacent to League City’s planned 70-acre Riverview mixed-use development. The firm purchased the 108,000-square-foot Pecan Park Plaza
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Jason Baker
  • League City
Apr
13
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Retail Done Right: Meeting the Demands of Pandemic-Induced Population Migration

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the commercial real estate landscape, and retail has been no exception. Over the past two years, Americans have flocked to rural and suburban communities on the outskirts of major cities, seeking
  • Brenham
  • Burke's
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Marshalls
  • Petsmart
  • REBusiness Online
Mar
04
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Building Permits Lead Last Year in Brenham

Brenham Building Permits for the month of February are ahead of last year both in the number of permits issued and the dollar total of them. A total of 47 permits were issued by the city
  • Brenham
  • KWHI
  • Mod Pizza
Feb
18
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Northern Tool to Open 31,000 SF Store at Woodforest Shopping Center in Houston

HOUSTON — Northern Tool + Equipment has signed a lease to open a 31,000-square-foot store at Woodforest Shopping Center in East Houston. Shawn Ackerman and Jason Du of Henry S. Miller Brokerage represented the undisclosed landlord in
  • Jason Baker
  • Northern Tool + Equipment
  • REBusiness Online
Feb
02
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As COVID-19 pandemic approaches 2-year mark, experts weigh in on future of restaurants

The Covid-19 pandemic has continued to be a challenge for the restaurant industry. Omicron, the most recent strain of the virus, has been the latest threat to restaurants due to high transmissibility resulting in an explosion
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Jason Baker
  • Restaurants
Dec
10
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Welcome to ICSC: Attendees Tell Us They Are Thrilled to “Make in Person Deals Happen”

In advance of today’s big ICSC Here We Go 2021 conference, GlobeSt.com caught up with a few attendees on what they look forward to at this year’s live event. LAS VEGAS — “I’m Thrilled to have
  • Globe St.
  • ICSC
  • Jason Baker
  • Retail Trends
Nov
14
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Retail wrap: Bluestone Lane, Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, Pet Supplies Plus plan new locations

Bluestone Lane, an Australian-inspired coffee roaster and neighborhood café base din New York, leased a 4,400-square-foot building at 115 W. 19th St. in the Heights neighborhood for its first Texas location. The building, now owned by
  • Lunden McGill
  • Pet Supplies Plus
Nov
04
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Baker Katz completes leases for six Pet Supplies Plus locations in Houston area

Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail tenant representation, investment sales, project deveopment and leasing, announced that they have completed recent deals for six storefront
  • Lunden McGill
  • Pet Supplies Plus
Oct
15
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Houston mall reverses fortune with focus on Hispanic community and local shops and services

By Steve McLinden, Contributor | Commerce + Communities TodayOctober 15, 2021 The first fully air conditioned mall in Houston has a new kind of cool. The 60-year-old PlazAmericas, one of the city’s first fortress malls is
  • Commerce+Communities Today
  • Development
  • Kenneth Katz
  • PlazAmericas
Oct
14
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Brenham Shopping Center Project Continues on Schedule

By Josh Blaschke Construction at the site of the Baker Katz shopping center in Brenham is proceeding on schedule. Baker Katz co-founder Kenneth Katz said work is progressing nicely at the development, located on 35 acres
  • Brenham
  • Kenneth Katz
  • KWHI
Jul
29
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Retail wrap: Phenix Salon Suites, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Jiffy Lube ink new locations

Phenix Salon Suites leased 7,500 square feet in Gateway Memorial City, at 947 Gessner, from MetroNational. It will be the second location for franchisees Greg and Susan Gordillo after opening in Katy in 2019. The business
  • Ben Brown
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
Jul
04
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Bel Furniture buys former Star Furniture property in Willowbrook area

Bel Furniture has purchased the former location of Star Furniture. Officials with Baker Katz, a Houston-based commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced July 26 that Bel Furniture purchased the former Star Furniture located at 7111 FM
  • Ben Brown
  • Community Impact Newspaper
  • Jason Baker
May
20
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Retail wrap: Burkes Outlet, State Far Kitchen & Bar, Dave’s Hot Chicken ink new locations

Florida-based PopStroke Entertainment Group will open a Tiger Woods-designed golf entertainment facility on 3.2 acres in Katy Grand, a project of NewQuest Properties at Interstate 10 and the Grand Parkway. The venue will include two 18-hole
  • Development
  • Foodarama
  • Kenneth Katz
May
15
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How H-E-B, other Houston retailers are responding to new CDC mask guidance

Not much has changed – yet – on the mask front for retailers, many of which were re-evaluating their mask policies on Friday, a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines.
  • COVID-19
  • Kenneth Katz
  • PlazAmericas
Apr
29
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Retail Wrap: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Chipotle, Original Chop Shop, Postino ink new locations

Houston-based Baker Katz announced expansions for several restaurants. Chipotle, represented by Traci Holman of Baker Katz, signed leases at 4045 Little York Road in Houston, 2555 East League City Parkway in League City and at Interstate
  • Ben Brown
  • Charleys Philly Steaks
  • Chipotle
  • John Frazier
  • Original Chop Shop
  • Postino
  • Traci Holman
Apr
09
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New breed of retailer helps malls experience a revival

Seventy-foot spaceships and intergalactic tunnels now occupy a 40,000-square-foot space in Village at the West Oaks that once housed shelves brimming with bedding and home goods. Gone is traditional big-box retailer Bed Bath and Beyond, and
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Houston Malls
  • Jason Baker
Apr
06
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Report projects 80,000 store closings in coming years

While the pandemic has made it impossible for some retailers to stay in business, a new report suggests tens of thousands of retailers could disappear in the coming years. The problem, according to investment bank UBS,
  • FOX26 Houston
  • Jason Baker
  • retail
  • Retail Trends
Mar
23
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Houston traffic is back, and that’s a good sign for the economy

(Cover Photo: Carl Carlock, left, goes through the order line at Cleburne Cafeteria on Thursday, March 18, 2021 in Houston. The Restaurant has seen an increase in business by about 20 percent over the last month.)
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Post-Pandemic Market
  • Restaurants
Mar
23
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Oil bust, and pandemic, leave Houston with nation’s highest office vacancy rate

HOUSTON – As oil prices inch back up from a terrible year, and Covid vaccines offer hope that the pandemic will be beaten, Houston’s commercial real estate business is far from recovered. The city has more
  • Jason Baker
  • Office Space
Mar
11
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Retail wrap: Charming Charlie is making a comeback

Charming Charlie, a women’s apparel and fashion accessories chain retailer, announced plans to open 14 locations in March and April in Texas, California, New York and the Midwest. The openings include stores to open March 12
  • Brenham
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
Mar
11
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Baker Katz Breaks Ground on 163,518 SF Retail Project in Brenham, Texas

BRENHAM, TEXAS — Houston-based development and leasing firm Baker Katz has broken ground on Brenham Crossing, a 163,518-square-foot retail project in Brenham, located about 75 miles northwest of Houston. Baker Katz is developing the property, which
  • Brenham
  • Brenham Crossing
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
Mar
09
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Baker Katz Breaks Ground on 50-Acre Retail Development in Brenham, Texas

Brenham, Texas — Baker Katz has broken ground on Brenham Crossing, a 50-acre retail development located at the southwest corners of Highway 290 and Chappell Hill Road in Brenham. Five retailers are sset to open within
  • Brenham
  • Brenham Crossing
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
  • Shopping Center Business
Mar
09
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Upcoming Brenham Crossing retail development officially breaks ground

Baker Katz, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail tenant representation, investment sales, project development and leasing, partnered with the City of Brenham to host a groundbreaking ceremony today to celebrate the construction
  • Brenham
  • Brenham Crossing
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
Mar
08
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Groundbreaking Held For Shopping Center Project, First Wave of Retailers Announced

A milestone years in the making was accomplished today (Monday) for the Baker Katz shopping center project in Brenham. Representatives from the City of Brenham and Washington County met this morning with Baker Katz and Arch-Con
  • Brenham
  • Development
  • Kenneth Katz
Aug
18
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9AM Drive-thru school supply distribution

Due to COVID-19, the need for school supplies this year is even greater. The Alliance is partnering with PlazAmericas to host its 13th Annual Back to School Drive this morning at 9a.m. The drive is aimed
  • COVID-19
  • CW39
  • PlazAmericas
Aug
16
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Helping schoolkids – from a distance

Volunteers distribute backpacks Tuesday during The Alliance and PlazAmericas’ Back to School drive in Houston. This is the 13th annual drive for the nonprofit and mall. Photo: Houston Chronicle / Elizabeth Conley / Staff Photographer
  • COVID-19
  • Houston Chronicle
  • PlazAmericas
Aug
16
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The Alliance Back to School Drive 2020 – Recap

The Alliance partnered with PlazAmericas to host the 13th Annual Back to School Drive on August 18, 2020. We distributed school supply bags to 3,000 students in the Southwest Houston area and gave out over 500
  • COVID-19
  • PlazAmericas
  • The Alliance
Aug
16
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VIETV The Alliance Back to School Drive Thru

VIETV Coverage of The Alliance & PlazAmericas Back to School Drive-Thru event on August 18. Watch the Coverage Here
  • COVID-19
  • PlazAmericas
Aug
13
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The pandemic is forcing stores to close, and limiting choices for consumers

HOUSTON – Travelers around Houston will notice a growing number of buildings and storefronts that are empty, and the pandemic slowdown is likely to change where and how we spend our money. By comparison: in March,
  • COVID-19
  • FOX26 Houston
  • Jason Baker
Jun
02
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Amid COVID-19, Texas Retail Owners Have Tenants’ Backs

As COVID-19 disrupts the American economy, healthcare system and way of life, retailers and restaurants — the commercial real estate users whose very profitability and essence thrive on social congregation — have already been pegged as
  • COVID-19
  • Jason Baker
  • Texas Real Estate Business
May
04
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Major Houston-area malls will reopen today

PlazAmericas, Houston Premium Outlets, Katy Mills and Galleria are ready for patrons Nine Houston-area malls are planning to reopen in early May after being closed for more than a month to slow the spread of the
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Houston Malls
  • Kenneth Katz
  • PlazAmericas
  • PressReader
Apr
21
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Communication technologies put to work during COVID-19

Even after shelter-in-place mandates, Dallas-based Weitzman closed several retail leases using digital aids, spokesman Ian Pierce said. For example, Weitzman and a national insurance tenant signed a lease in March using digital signing tools, including digital
  • COVID-19
  • Jason Baker
  • Malls
  • Shopping Centers Today
  • Telecommunications
  • Virtual Meetings
Mar
27
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COVID-19: Collaboration and communications among retail real estate stakeholders

“No one had a pandemic plan in place, but they are quickly developing them in terms of deep-cleaning methods and controlling crowds at essential-services retailers, which are actually thriving,” said Jeff Pandolfo, a leasing director for
  • ICSC
  • Jason Baker
  • Shopping Centers Today
Feb
14
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Sears reportedly to close two more Houston-area stores

The Sears at Deerbrook and Willowbrook malls are reportedly closing, opening up a rare opportunity for the malls to redevelop a large portion of its retail space. The closures would join Sears locations that have shuttered
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
Feb
04
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Baker Katz sells retail development near Baybrook Mall

By Katherine Feser | houstoncrhonicle.com Dallas-based Crow Holdings purchased a retail development housing several popular restaurant chains in southeast Houston near Baybrook Mall from Baker Katz. The development totals 15,600 square feet in two buildings. Houston-based Baker Katz, which broke ground
  • Baybrook
  • development deals
  • Neal Wade
Jan
03
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Behind the deal: Houston’s growth brought this furniture retailer to town

For Nolan Morrison, regional manager with American Furniture Warehouse, expanding the company from its locations in Colorado and Arizona to Houston was a numbers game. Houston offered a lot of advantages to the Englewood, Colorado-based company,
  • American Furniture Warehouse
  • Ben Brown
  • Conroe
  • HBJ
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Katy
  • Webster
Jan
03
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American Furniture Warehouse buys land for Conroe store

American Furniture Warehouse completed the purchase of a 30-acre tract at Interstate 45 and River Plantation Drive in Conroe for its third Houston-area location. The site will house a 443,375-square-foot store, including 150,000 square feet of
  • AFW
  • American Furniture Warehouse
  • Ben Brown
  • Conroe
  • HBJ
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Katy
  • Webster
Jan
02
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Furniture retailer buys third massive tract for another Houston-area store

American Furniture Warehouse, an Englewood, Colorado-based furniture retailer, has acquired a 30-acre tract in Conroe for its third Houston-area store, according to a press release. The store, just south of the Grand Central Park master-planned community,
  • American Furniture Warehouse
  • Ben Brown
  • Conroe
  • HBJ
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Katy
  • Webster
Oct
08
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5Qs for Jason Baker about Houston

Born and raised in Texas, a graduate of Texas A&M, and having spent 15 years serving retailers in the Houston market as a principal of the Baker Katz real estate brokerage, Jason Baker knows the Lone
  • Chain Store Age
  • Jason Baker
Sep
26
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Shopping Center Developers say talks with Retailers going well

Developers of a new shopping center here say they are receiving positive responses from major retailers about opening stores there. Kenneth Katz of Houston-based developer Baker Katz said the company is “actively negotiating with a number
  • Banner-Press
  • Brenham
  • Development
  • Kenneth Katz
Sep
17
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Academy Sports unveils new store prototype amid growing competition

Academy Sports + Outdoors on Monday opened a store in Richmond with a revamped floor layout and design, part of the Katy athletic retailer’s initiative to improve customers’ shopping experience amid increasing brick-and-mortar and online competition.
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
Sep
06
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Retail wrap: Bellaire Town Center draws restaurants, fitness, beauty tenants

Bellaire Town Center, a redevelopment project of SDI Realty Advisors under construction at Bellaire Boulevard and South Rice Avenue, has signed Salata and JuiceLand as its latest tenants. Salata, represented by Wade Greene of Transwestern, signed a 2,804-square-foot lease. JuiceLand,
  • Ben Brown
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Natural Pawz
Aug
30
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Restaurant roundup: California sandwich shop, latest Goodnight Hospitality restaurant, swim club and bar open

After months of waiting, numerous restaurants made their debut this week, and some local barbecue joints received national accolades in this week’s restaurant roundup.  Latest Goodnight Hospitality restaurant opens Rosie Cannonball opened Aug. 29. The restaurant,
  • Jason Baker
  • Lunden McGill
  • Pluckers
May
10
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A Closer Look at What Retail’s Future Might Have in Store

GlobeSt.com catches up with Baker Katz executives on the popularity of utilizing geofencing to assist retailers with site selection and for shopping center awareness among other things in preparation for the upcoming ICSC RECon conference later
  • Globe St.
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
Apr
22
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Experts Talk RECon; New Emerging Concepts and Power Centers

The 2018 edition of ICSC’s colossal RECon convention is gearing up and GlobeSt.com chats with a few expert sources on their expectations and predictions for the show. “At neighborhood strip malls and power centers, big box
  • Globe St.
  • Kenneth Katz
Apr
12
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HBJ’s 2019 Landmark Awards: Land Deal winner and finalists

Winner: H-E-B’s Land Purchase at Kirby Boulevard and West Alabama Street Developer: Midway/H-E-B Seller: Tommy Dickey / Tom Lipincott Attorney: Greg Erwin Broker: Tim Dosch and David Marshall (represented seller); Baker Katz (represented H-E-B) San Antonio-based
  • Awards
  • HEB
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Jason Baker
Feb
02
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Big Gains For Small Shops

Open-air landlords report strong growth among mom-and-pops Small-shop tenants took a hit when credit dried up after the 2008 financial crisis. Now, a decade later, some landlords are reporting record-high occupancies and rents for these operators,
  • Houston
  • Jason Baker
  • Shopping Centers Today
Feb
01
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New H-E-B In The Heights To Improve Shepherd Drive’s Appeal

H-E-B opened a multistory location in the Heights this week, and it is expected to significantly increase the appeal of the Shepherd corridor. The new 92K SF store, at 2300 North Shepherd Drive, includes a two-story parking structure, 50 bike-rack
  • HEB
  • Heights
  • Jason Baker
Dec
29
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Food, Beverage Users Drive Retail Markets

From first-to-market concepts to established chains, eateries and bars are propelling retail absorption in each of Texas’ major markets, say retail brokers. Over the past couple years, retail investors and developers have begun paying special attention
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Restaurants
  • Texas Real Estate Business
Dec
25
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Sharpstown moves toward change

Margaret Mitchell has lived in Sharpstown for nearly her whole life, watching in dismay as stores closed in the neighborhood’s main shopping center and the property slid into disrepair, despite efforts by owners to make the
  • Development
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
  • Sharpstown
Dec
21
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Baker Katz Purchases 850,000 SF Shopping Mall in Houston

HOUSTON — Houston-based retail firm Baker Katz has purchased PlazAmericas Mall, an 850,000-square-foot shopping destination in Houston. Formerly known as Sharpstown Mall, the property was built in 1961 and has undergone several renovations over the years.
  • Development deasl
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
  • PlazAmericas
  • RE Business Online
  • Sharpstown
Dec
21
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10 Must Reads for the CRE Industry Today (Dec 21, 2018)

Analysts worry the high amount of investment in self-storage properties may have outpaced demand for self-storage space, reports the Wall Street Journal. Forbes offers a 2019 real estate investment preview. These are among today’s must reads
  • development deals
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Mall
  • Neal Wade
  • PlazAmericas
  • Sharpstown
Dec
21
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PlazAmericas Mall has a new owner, for the most part

Nancy Sarnoff reports in the Chronicle that the former Sharpstown Center, more recently known as PlazAmericas has been soldto Houston commercial real estate firm Baker Katz. Well, most of it has: The purchase, she writes “does not include any of
  • development deals
  • Houston landscape
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
  • PlazAmericas
  • Sharpstown
  • swamplot
Dec
21
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Houston real estate developers acquire former Sharpstown mall

PlazAmericas, the former Sharpstown shopping center that has struggled to find its footing as regional malls have fallen out of shoppers’ favor, has a new owner that wants to turn around the property while maintaining the
  • Development
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Mall
  • PlazAmericas
  • Sharpstown
Dec
21
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Houston real estate firm buys former Sharpstown Mall

Houston’s oldest enclosed mall has a new owner. Houston-based commercial real estate firm Baker Katz bought PlazAmericas Mall, formerly known as Sharpstown Mall and Sharpstown Center, from Philadelphia-based RAIT Financial Trust (OTCQB: RASF), according to a
  • Development
  • Houston Business Journal
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Mall
  • PlazAmericas
  • Sharpstown
Nov
16
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Nimble reboot

Lidl is tweaking its U.S. expansion strategy – By Beth Mattson-Teig   It has been nearly 18 months since German grocery giant Lidl opened its first U.S. stores and boldly announced plans to have about 100
  • Grocery
  • Jason Baker
  • Lidl
  • Shopping Centers Today
Nov
16
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Retail wrap: Mendocino Farms, Popbar, Olive Garden add area locations

Mendocino Farms, a casual restaurant based in Southern California, will become another dining option in Uptown Park, a project of Edens undergoing a renovation at Post Oak Boulevard and West Loop 610. The 3,205-square-foot restaurant will
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Lunden McGill
Nov
15
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Rtic, expanding beyond coolers, opens flagship store in Cypress

Rtic Outdoors has designed a flagship store that’s just begging to be Instagramed. Customers are greeted by a 24-foot “R” inlaid with a polar bear, the company’s logo. A Ford F-150 truck, displaying coolers, is parked
  • Cypress
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • market trends
  • rtic
Nov
13
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This Week’s Houston Deal Sheet

HighTower Texas signed a 16K SF lease for its headquarters to 4400 Post Oak Parkway in Houston. The wealth management firm committed to an eight-year lease to occupy the 26th floor and plans on expanding services in Houston. HighTower Texas
  • BisNow
  • I10
  • sales
Oct
30
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Randalls continues retreat from competitive grocery market

The Houston grocery chain Randalls will shutter three more local stores by year’s end as the company continues to struggle in the region’s hyper-competitive market. Randalls, a unit of the national supermarket company Albertsons, said Tuesday
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • market trends
  • Randalls
  • retail
Oct
30
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This Week’s Houston Deal Sheet

Amsterdam-based coworking company Spaces inked a 53K SF lease for the first three floors of Two Post Oak Central. This marks the second Spaces’ location in Houston, a market that is starting to pick up the pace
  • BisNow
  • property acquisitions
Oct
16
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This Week’s Houston Deal Sheet

Coming on the wave of an energy resurgence, one natural gas producer is expanding its footprint in Houston. BP Lower 48 inked a 91K SF lease at West Memorial Place at 15375 Memorial Drive in Houston. The company, wholly
  • BisNow
  • Neal Wade
  • renovations
  • Sale
Oct
15
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American retail icon Sears files bankruptcy

Sears, an icon of American retail for more than a century, filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday morning, the latest casualty of the headwinds facing brick-and-mortar retailers. The embattled department store chain, once the world’s largest,
  • bankruptcy
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Sears
Oct
10
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Baker Katz Completes Remodel, Sale of 52,744 SF Retail Center in Metro Houston

HUMBLE, TEXAS — Houston-based Baker Katz has completed the remodeling and sale of a 52,744-square-foot retail center in Humble, a northern suburb of Houston. The property is anchored by 24 Hour Fitness. Neal Wade of Baker
  • Humble
  • Neal Wade
  • Remodel
  • Sale
Sep
14
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One Year After Hurricane Harvey

Houston developers wrestle with complex regulatory issues in the 100- and 500-year floodplains. By Kenneth Katz & Neal Wade of Baker Katz The Houston metropolitan area was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Harvey, with a tropical
  • Kenneth Katz
  • Neal Wade
  • Texas Real Estate Business
Sep
01
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How To Weather Hurricane Season

As the industry goes into a new hurricane season, retail property owners and tenants have had nearly a year to evaluate their responses to last year’s trio of hurricanes, which caused a record $202 billion in
  • Hurricanes
  • Kenneth Katz
  • retail
  • Shopping Centers Today
Aug
21
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Whole Foods 365 store a ‘strong statement’ for Independence Heights

For decades, Mardie Paige drove 10 minutes out of her neighborhood to shop at Kroger stores in nearby Heights and Oak Forest. There were no major grocery stores in the traditionally African-American neighborhood off the North Loop,
  • Jason Baker
  • retail
  • WholeFoods
Aug
20
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What Did Houston CRE Learn From Hurricane Harvey? Industry Leaders Speak One Year Later

Nearly a year ago, Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston-area residents with historic flooding. Houston Strong, the city’s rallying cry for recovery efforts, held true through the year since Harvey hit Texan land on Aug. 26, 2017. The city
  • BisNow
  • Jason Baker
Aug
16
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Retail wrap: Buff Burger, Sweet Paris, Russo’s NY Pizzeria, Zero Degrees get new locations

BuffBurger, a burger restaurant launched by Paul and Sara Burden in 2015, plans to open a location this fall in the CityWest Retail Center, 10550 Westheimer, in west Houston. Other locations are at 1014 Wirt Road
  • Jason Baker
  • Lunden McGill
  • Outback Steakhouse
  • Restaurant
Jul
23
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Development near Baybrook Mall snags 4 restaurant leases including Hopdoddy, Snooze

Several restaurant chains are heading out to southeast Houston near Baybrook Mall. Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, Mod Pizza and Main Squeeze Juice Co. inked leases at a new shopping center at 820 Bay
  • Hopdoddy
  • Houston
  • Lunden McGill
  • Mod Pizza
  • Snooze
Jul
10
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Discounting new discount concepts

With off-price player like Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, and Ross Stores entrenched as favored anchors for shopping centers, traditional anchors like Macy’s are finding it harder than they imagined to get in on the act. There’s more
  • Chain Store Age
  • Jason Baker
  • retail
Jul
03
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Open Retail Space in Houston – Fox26

  • Jason Baker
  • retail
Jul
02
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American Furniture Warehouse buys sites for initial Texas stores

Colorado-based American Furniture Warehouse has purchased land in Katy and Webster for its entry into the Texas market. Houston-based Baker Katz represented American Furniture Warehouse in the transactions. “We worked diligently to secure high-profile sites within super
  • American Furniture Warehouse
  • Ben Brown
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Katy
  • Texas
Jun
18
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Baker Katz Signs Republic Chicken to New Lease in Beaumont, Texas

BEAUMONT, TEXAS — Houston-based Baker Katz has signed Republic Chicken, a family-style restaurant serving Southern comfort food, to a new lease in Beaumont. Located at the corner of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 96, the new
  • Beaumont
  • Lunden McGill
  • Republic Chicken
  • Restaurants
  • Texas
Jun
15
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Why the massive gyms? It takes a ‘village of health’ to battle obesity

Luxury athletic clubs in the Houston area are bulking up in size and amenities, part of a national trend to capture the growth in fitness spending. Life Time just opened one of the region’s largest gyms,
  • Cypress
  • Fitness
  • Gyms
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Life Time
  • Texas
Jun
06
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Pet Supplies Plus signs lease at former Quiltworks location at Jones, West roads intersection

Officials with the retail brokerage firm Baker Katz announced Pet Supplies Plus has signed a 10-year lease at 9431 Jones Road, Houston, the former location of Quiltworks. The 7,500-square-foot location will offer pet food, supplies and toys
  • Community Impact Newspaper
  • Lunden McGill
  • Pet Supplies Plus
Jun
04
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Listen: What Randalls’ store closures mean for Houston’s grocery landscape

Download   Randalls — once the go-to store for grocery shopping in Houston — has been edged out over the years by its competitors offering lower prices and wider selections. The homegrown company, now a subsidiary
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Looped In
  • Randalls
May
22
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Retail Owners Bet Big on Makeovers

RECon attendees detailed strategies for major renovations and reported renewed interest in the sector from institutional capital sources. Judging by conversations with a few of the developers and project managers at RECon on Monday, a steady
  • Commercial Property Executive
  • Jason Baker
  • RECon
  • renovations
  • retail
May
10
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Working With Expanding Chains

Many markets are seeing new concepts expand and grow. But are they doing it smartly? Here’s advice on working with expanding concepts to develop a smart plan of attack for a market. Interview by Randall Shearin
  • Carrabbas
  • Chipotle
  • Clients
  • Jason Baker
  • Noodles
  • Outback Steakhouse
  • Piada
  • Postino
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping Center Business
  • Zoe's Kitchen
May
08
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Restaurant Consumers Demand More Variety

Savvy entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry are finding success by being ‘differentiators’ in product offerings and branding. From fast casual to fine dining, Americans’ appetite for more restaurant options is growing. The Bureau of
  • food
  • Houston
  • Jason Baker
  • Restaurants
  • trends
May
06
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Villasport to Open 121,000 SF Athletic Facility

KATY, TEXAS — VillaSport Athletic Club & Spa, an operator of upscale fitness clubs, will open a 121,000-square-foot athletic facility within Stableside at Falcon Landing, a 270,000-square-foot retail development in Katy. The facility will feature NBA-size
  • Jason Baker
  • Katy
  • Lunden McGill
  • Texas Real Estate Business
  • VillaSport
May
03
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Retail rents rising, despite industry turmoil

Rent for Houston retail space has risen to an all-time high, despite a long-term decline in brick-and-mortar businesses. The average asking rent for Houston retail space during the first quarter rose to $16.90 per square foot,
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • market trends
  • retailers
  • Toys R Us
Apr
16
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VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa inks big lease in Katy

VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa will kick off the next phase of the Stableside at Falcon Landing retail center in the Katy area with its third location in the Houston market. The private club has leased
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • Leasing
  • Lunden McGill
  • VillaSport
Feb
28
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Houston’s Grand Parkway offers 184 miles of future retail construction

Retail observers would be hard-pressed to name a loop, high street, highway or byway in any large American market that is a bigger hotbed of retail development than Greater Houston’s aptly named Grand Parkway. When completed
  • Development
  • Grand Parkway
  • Houston
  • Jason Baker
  • market at springwoods village
  • Shopping Centers Today
Feb
20
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This Week’s Houston Deal Sheet

Global real estate investment management firm Heitman completed the acquisition of a 1.4M SF medical office portfolio composed of 17 buildings in seven states, with Texas taking the lion’s share. Sugar Land’s Medical Plaza I and II
  • BisNow
  • Clients
  • Leases
  • Lunden McGill
Jan
30
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What’s ahead in 2018? Houston business likely to grow, not boom

What will 2018 bring to Houston’s bustling business community? We turned to some of our reliable sources for their observations and predictions for the year to come. Here’s a compendium of what we learned: Economy to
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • market trends
Jan
30
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A Retail Recalibration Throughout Houston

For retail tenants and developers alike, Houston’s Space City moniker could easily be interpreted as a kind of tongue-in-cheek double meaning, mainly because space is one thing Houston always has plenty of. Commercial developers have taken
  • Jason Baker
  • Kenneth Katz
  • market trends
  • Momentum Indoor Climbing
  • RE Business Online
Jan
30
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Houston retail construction slows as online shopping accelerates

Houston retail construction is tapering off as the rising popularity of online shopping gives developers some pause. An estimated 3.3 million square feet of new shopping centers are slated for completion across the Houston area this
  • construction
  • Development
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Jason Baker
  • retail
Jan
22
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Amazon Opens Prototype 1,800 SF Checkout-Free Grocery Store in Seattle

SEATTLE — Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has opened the first location of Amazon Go, an 1,800-square-foot mini grocery store in Seattle that allows customers to shop without waiting in checkout lines. The store was open exclusively
  • Amazon
  • Grocery
  • Kenneth Katz
  • RE Business Online