GBT Realty
GBT Realty Corporation is a Brentwood, Tennessee-based commercial real estate investment firm founded in 1987 that develops, acquires, leases, and manages retail properties across the United States through three platforms: Retail Centers, Net Lease Development, and Diversified Development, serving 270-plus retail tenants with a $1.3 billion capital deployment plan underway.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersBrentwood, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GBT Realty does
GBT Realty Corporation is a Brentwood, Tennessee-based commercial real estate investment firm founded in 1987 that develops, acquires, leases, and manages retail properties across the United States. The company operates through three specialized platforms: the Retail Centers Platform (acquiring and developing grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, and regional power centers), the Net Lease Development Platform (programmatic single-tenant net lease and small strip center projects), and the Diversified Development Platform (mixed-use properties spanning multi-family, hotel, office, and medical sectors). Since inception GBT has been involved with over 45 million square feet of commercial development representing more than $8.5 billion in real estate value, including over 1,000 single-tenant net lease properties delivered since 2012 and more than $450 million of mixed-use development since 2018. The firm holds a portfolio of 270-plus retail tenants, more than 75% of which are national or regional brands.
GBT generates revenue through a combination of development fees, property acquisitions and dispositions, leasing commissions, and recurring property management fees. Its go-to-market is direct-to-tenant via internal leasing and property management teams, with no intermediary distribution channels. The company is privately held and founder-led, with George Tomlin serving as Founder, President, and Chairman, and Brian Dawson, who joined as CEO in spring 2025, leading the current $1.3 billion capital deployment strategy aimed at expanding AUM from $1 billion to over $3 billion over 18 months through 33 build-to-suit retail projects and shopping center acquisitions planned for 2026.
GBT Realty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GBT Realty
- Legal name
- GBT Realty Corporation
- Website
- https://gbtrealty.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- GBT Realty Corporation is a Brentwood, Tennessee-based commercial real estate investment firm founded in 1987 that develops, acquires, leases, and manages retail properties across the United States through three platforms: Retail Centers, Net Lease Development, and Diversified Development, serving 270-plus retail tenants with a $1.3 billion capital deployment plan underway.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GBT Realty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Real Estate Development
- NAICS
- Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) (531120), Lessors of Real Estate (5311)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tenant Representation & Corporate Services Brokerage (BPAJABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)
Keywords
Where GBT Realty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brentwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GBT Realty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Property Development: GBT develops build-to-suit retail properties, grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, regional power centers, single-tenant buildings, and mixed-use developments. Revenue is generated through development fees and property sales.
- Property Acquisition: The company acquires existing shopping centers and retail properties, generating revenue through asset appreciation and eventual disposition.
- Leasing and Management: GBT manages a portfolio of over 270 retail tenants across its properties, generating recurring revenue through leasing commissions and property management fees.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
GBT Realty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GBT Realty acquires, develops, leases, and manages commercial retail real estate across three platforms—Retail Centers, Net Lease Development, and Diversified Development—delivering grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, regional power centers, single-tenant retail, and mixed-use properties. The company focuses on programmatic build-to-suit developments and shopping center acquisitions for national and regional retail brand tenants. The portfolio covers more than 270 tenants and over 45 million square feet of commercial real estate developed since 1987.
Product overview
GBT Realty Corporation operates as a real estate investment firm with three distinct platforms: the Retail Centers Platform (acquiring and developing retail centers nationwide), the Net Lease Development Platform (programmatic single-tenant properties, over 1,000 STNL developed since 2012), and the Diversified Development Platform (mixed-use properties in multi-family, hotel, office, and medical sectors). The company offers build-to-suit retail development and shopping center acquisition services, managing a portfolio of grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, regional power centers, single-tenant retail, and mixed-use developments totaling over 45 million square feet across more than 270 tenants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Retail Centers Platform A real estate platform that acquires and develops retail centers nationwide—including grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, and regional power centers—targeting national and regional retail brand tenants.
- Net Lease Development Platform A real estate development platform that delivers programmatic, high-volume single-tenant net lease projects and small strip center developments. Since 2012, it has developed over 1,000 STNL properties across the U.S., totaling more than 10 million square feet.
- Diversified Development Platform A mixed-use real estate development platform building projects across multi-family, hotel, office, and medical sectors, delivering over $450M in office, multifamily and retail mixed-use development since 2018.
- Build-to-Suit Retail Development Custom development service that constructs retail properties tailored to specific tenant requirements, delivered as part of the company's $1.3 billion capital deployment strategy.
- Shopping Center Acquisition Acquisition services for existing shopping centers as part of the company's expansion strategy to exceed $3 billion in assets under management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 45 million square feet of commercial development delivered since 1987
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GBT Realty
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GBT Realty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GBT Realty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GBT Realty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Phillips Edison & Company: Publicly traded net-lease REIT focused on grocery-anchored shopping centers. Highly comparable to GBT's Retail Centers platform given similar tenant profiles (national grocers, necessity-based retailers) and similar property types.
- Federal Realty Investment Trust: Established REIT specializing in grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use developments. Closely comparable to GBT's Retail Centers and Diversified Development platforms, with similar high-quality tenant base and suburban shopping center focus.
- Regency Centers Corporation: Public REIT focused on grocery-anchored shopping centers with a national tenant base. Direct competitor to GBT in the same property type and tenant demographic.
- Brixmor Property Group: Public REIT owning and operating a national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Comparable to GBT's Retail Centers platform in property type, scale, and open-air grocery-anchored strategy.
- Kite Realty Group: Public REIT focused on open-air shopping centers, often grocery-anchored, with similar tenant mix to GBT. Recently merged with Retail Properties of America, expanding scale comparable to GBT's growth trajectory.
Broad incumbents
- Kimco Realty: One of the largest publicly traded retail REITs with a national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Overlaps with GBT in property type and tenant profile but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Realty Income Corporation: S&P 500 net lease REIT with a massive diversified portfolio including retail, industrial, and other single-tenant properties. Comparable to GBT's Net Lease Development platform at much greater scale.
- W. P. Carey Inc. Diversified net lease REIT with single-tenant properties across retail, industrial, and office. Overlaps with GBT's Net Lease Development platform but operates globally with broader sector exposure.
Emerging players
- Continental Realty Corporation: Privately held commercial real estate investment and management firm with shopping center and mixed-use focus. Comparable in scale and operating model to GBT, with similar multi-platform structure.
- SITE Centers (formerly DDR Corp.): Public REIT focused on open-air shopping centers with a national footprint. Comparable to GBT's Retail Centers platform though currently smaller and undergoing portfolio reshaping.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GBT Realty social profiles
Digital presenceGBT Realty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GBT Realty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GBT Realty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GBT Realty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GBT Realty
What does GBT Realty do?
GBT Realty acquires, develops, leases, and manages commercial retail real estate across three platforms—Retail Centers, Net Lease Development, and Diversified Development—delivering grocery-anchored shopping centers, neighborhood centers, regional power centers, single-tenant retail, and mixed-use properties. The company focuses on programmatic build-to-suit developments and shopping center acquisitions for national and regional retail brand tenants. The portfolio covers more than 270 tenants and over 45 million square feet of commercial real estate developed since 1987.
Is GBT Realty a public or private company?
GBT Realty is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GBT Realty founded?
GBT Realty was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is GBT Realty based?
GBT Realty is headquartered in Brentwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does GBT Realty make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Property Development is the primary driver. The others are property Acquisition and leasing and Management.
Who are GBT Realty's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Phillips Edison & Company, Federal Realty Investment Trust, Regency Centers Corporation, Brixmor Property Group and Kite Realty Group. Broad incumbents are Kimco Realty, Realty Income Corporation and W. P. Carey Inc.. Emerging players are Continental Realty Corporation and SITE Centers (formerly DDR Corp.).
Does GBT Realty have an API?
No public API is recorded for GBT Realty.
What industry is GBT Realty in?
GBT Realty's product category is Commercial Real Estate Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJABAJ, Tenant Representation & Corporate Services Brokerage, with a secondary code of FSAEAJAB, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales). Its NAICS code is 531120 and its SIC code is 6531.