In The News

For the past 20 years, Jason Baker has helped retailers the likes of Darden Restaurants, Cava, and Fox Restaurant Concepts expand in the Houston metro. Like many retail real estate brokers, a good part of his

Frank Sharp celebrated the opening of Sharpstown Center, Houston’s first enclosed air-conditional mall, on this day in 1961 with a crowd of 8,000 and a speech by Ted Kennedy, the brother of the then-president. Sharp, who

Goldman Sachs’ newly originated loan on the retail component of 680 Madison Avenue in New York demonstrates the changing opportunity set for the sector. The fortunes of the retail sector appear to be rising, with lenders

LAS VEGAS — The Houston retail market has been strong for years now and consumers in Houston — like many parts of the country — are very resilient. As a result, Jason Baker, principal with Houston-based

A roundtable discussion reinforces the notion that the Bayou City remains a fascinating market that embraces economic evolution and discovery without compromising its roots. Historically, the fortunes of many commercial real estate endeavors in Houston have

HOUSTON — Fast-casual concept Salad and Go has inked three new leases in metro Houston. The drive-thru-only company will open restaurants at a 44,431-square-foot property in Magnolia and a 30,000-square-foot property in Cypress, as well as in

Houston — Fast-casual concept Salad and Go has signed four new leases in Texas. The brand will open restaurants at a 44,431-square-foot property in Magnolia and a 30,000-square-foot property in Cypress. Danny Miller of Gulf Coast Commercial

Fresh, healthy, and affordable food options are seeing a boost in Cypress, as Salad and Go readies to open its doors in mid-summer 2024. The fast-casual, drive-thru-only retailer, known for its nutritious food at affordable prices,

HOUSTON — Partners Real Estate arranged a 16,764 SF lease with Tecmag on Westchase Drive. Partners’ Jon Silberman and Pierce Beyer represented the tenant. The landlord, Link Logistics, was represented by Boone Smith with Stream Realty

Construction challenges, retailer demand and the prospects for 2024 were the talk of the organization’s annual New York City event. Attendees at ICSC’s annual New York City conference presented a wide range of impressions of the

A New Jersey-based auto parts distributor pre-leased the 185K SF Vault Distribution Center, a development by Vault Partners, a Houston-based real estate development and strategy firm. The industrial property is at 13612 Furman Road in Houston.

NewQuest Properties is ushering in a new wave of development at Townwest Commons in northeast Austin, with plans in the works to add 100,000 sf of entertainment, retail and restaurant space in 2024. Construction will ramp

MISSOURI CITY, Texas — EōS Fitness has signed a 40,000-square-foot lease at Fort Bend Town Center, a 144-acre retail development by NewQuest Properties in Missouri City, about 20 miles southwest of Houston. Jason Baker of Baker

Missouri City, Texas — Two new tenants have signed leases at Fort Bend Town Center, a multip-phase, 144-acre retail project currently underway by Newquest Properties in Missouri City, roughly 20 miles outside Houston. EōS Fitness will

EoS Fitness and CoCo Bella Beauty Supply are joining the line-up in NewQuest Properties’ Fort Bend Town Center, where construction has just begun on a new Metro station amid ongoing store openings in the massive life-essential development. EoS has

Audubon Engineering Co., an engineering, procurement and construction services firm, signed a 72K SF lease at 3505 West Sam Houston Parkway N in Houston for its primary corporate office. Built in 2013, 3505 West Sam Houston

Throughout the month of August and through the first week of September, Connect CRE is running a series title “Leading in Tough Times.” We’ve asked leaders around the U.S. and across the commercial real estate spectrum

Americans increased their purchases in July, a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.7% from June to July, according to the most recent report from

The rapid and continuing evolution of F&B delivery is shaking up the industry By Jason Baker, Principal at Baker Katz It is hardly a new or novel observation to say that COVID was massively disruptive to

Every month, we reach out to retail industry leaders in order to gain their perspective on the market. This month, we asked: Which retailers/restaurant brands do you predict will be “hot” as we head toward 2024,

Every month, we reach out to retail industry leaders in order to gain their perspective on the market. This month, we asked: Which types of retailers/restaurants do you think will be prioritized by consumers in the

Houston-based Baker Katz Principal Jason Baker discusses opportunities arising from 1,400 new spaces and shares his expectations for the ICSC event as his focus is to support national and regional brands seeking to expand into South

By Jason Baker, principal at Baker Katz When a national retail or restaurant brand acquires another prominent national name, the move might initially seem to make a great deal of sense — especially when there are

Salad And Go partnered with Houston-based Baker Katz, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail tenant representation, investment sales, project development and leasing, to expand its growth in the greater Houston market with

Salad And Go is partnering with Houston-based Baker Katz, a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail tenant representation, investment sales, project development and leasing, to add 15 locations to the Houston market. “The latest

Jason Baker, Principal at Baker Katz, participated in the CCIM Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Competition as a panelist weighing in on the discussion around retail real estate. He noted how the commercial real estate industry

For small businesses trying to relocate or expand in the Houston area, it’s a tough time to be looking. Houston’s retail occupancy rates hit a six-year high in 2022 — 94.7 percent, according to commercial real

Restaurants, businesses and entertainment businesses could come to Willis as Houston-based Baker Katz has purchased 1.89 acres at FM 1097 at Canyon Falls Boulevard. The land sits near two residential developments: The Woodlands Hills and Moran

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

Willis anticipates a boost of nearly $500,000 in monthly tax revenue spurred by a new grocery store opening in a shopping center that city officials have called “the largest development project.” The 200,000 square foot shopping

Willis anticipates a boost of nearly $500,000 in monthly tax revenue spurred by a new grocery store opening in a shopping center that city officials have called “the largest development project.” The 200,000 square foot shopping

Restaurants, businesses and entertainment businesses could come to Willis as Houston-based Baker Katz has purchased 1.89 acres at FM 1097 at Canyon Falls Boulevard. The land sits near two residential developments: The Woodlands Hills and Moran

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

With a new year on the horizon, Commerce + Communities Today contributing editor Joel Groover asked eight decision makers from across the Marketplaces Industry to share their proudest moments from 2022, a year characterized by strong

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

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

With a competitive shopping season just a couple of months away, brokers and e-commerce executives share their tips for small businesses looking to stand out. Even though we’re only at the tail end of summer, retailers

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

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

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 &

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

3 restaurants set to open in ’23 in San Antonio, Houston, Austin As it approaches three decades in business, Pluckers Wing Bar is preparing to boost its store count to 31 locations — and executives are looking

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

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

Left for dead in the early days of the pandemic retail has bounced back in a big way, particularly in Houston, due to specifics about the city and its growth. In our 100th episode, HBJ Managing

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

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

Houston — Locally based brokerage firm Baker Katz has arranged the sale of a 60,935-square-foot retail building in Houston that was formerly occupied by Star Furniture. The building sits on 2.4 acres at 7111 FM 1960 on

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

With an economy that is beginning to recover as more people become vaccinated, retail is recovering, too, in nearly all sectors. Jason Baker, principal at Houston-based commercial real estate firm Baker Katz, said he’s seeing retail

At a time when commercial real estate professionals see promising COVID-19 metrics and a better-than-expected vaccine rollout as signs that the end of the pandemic is near, it’s natural to examine where some of the most

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

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,

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

The Midtown Sears is being converted to a tech hub. Crews are tearing down the Memorial City Sears in West Houston. Now, the freestanding Sears on North Shepherd, the last active Sears department store in the

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,

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

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

“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

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

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

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.

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,

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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,

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

Tenant leases are ending sooner as landlords get more innovative about their space By Steve McLinden   Retail product cycles are not the only shrinking index in the shifting shopping center landscape. Leases, too, are getting

A little over a year ago, two Houston-area developers scooped up an historic property on Washington Avenue with plans to renovate. Though the property’s vacant space hasn’t been leased yet, more details on the developers’ plans

Houston may see a slowdown in retail development in 2018 – but that probably isn’t a bad thing. “Two years ago, there was no end in sight (to retail developments),” said Jason Baker of Baker Katz

Here’s a look at the trends, announcements and deals you may have missed at the mid-week point in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Arkansas. NEWS AND NOTABLES AUSTIN, TX—Legend Communities and Crescent Communities announced Rough

Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner and full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in retail tenant representation, investment sales, and project development and leasing, has completed a lease on behalf of Snooze, an