By Bryan Davis
Whether you’re launching your very first restaurant or expanding a thriving brand, it’s important to hire an experienced broker to represent your interests in each stage of the process.
Of course, one of your most important decisions is choosing a location for your restaurant. A skilled broker can help you zero in on the best possible location, down to a specific mixed-use project, retail center or stand-alone building.
As a tenant broker for more than a decade, I’ve helped many restaurant clients open new locations – concepts ranging from popular vegan burger bars to trendy brunch spots and vibe dining restaurants.
Combining Expertise with a Platform of Services
I leverage a comprehensive platform of services to help my clients secure an ideal location for their restaurant launch.
As a broker at Ackerman Retail, I have access to several proprietary databases, which enable me to search for available space in particular areas. In reviewing property listings, I look up key details such as rental rates to help you determine if a promising location is within your budget.
Your broker should have in-depth local market knowledge. Beyond the listings on industry databases, an experienced broker will tap into his network of relationships – including landlords and landlord brokers – to obtain off-market leads. This further adds to your pool of options. As a broker with extensive local expertise gained from my daily travels across the market, I’m also constantly uncovering prime locations others might overlook.
Using Social Media and Email Marketing
Social media is another tool I use to find a great location for clients. At Ackerman Retail, I work with the marketing team to deploy targeted campaigns on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and X for clients seeking space. These posts detail the exact space requirements and desired locations, inviting landlords and their brokers to reach out if they have suitable options that meet our criteria. This is another way to gather more options for my client.
I also use email marketing as part of the site selection process. These emails are sent to a large database of contacts requesting them to contact me if they have the type of space my client needs.
Finding the right location for your restaurant can make all the difference between a thriving business and a missed opportunity. Working with a broker with the experience and resources to uncover the best location options can be the first step in your path to long-term success.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
Content Team
