What Baker Katz does

Baker Katz is a Houston-based commercial real estate firm founded in 2004 by Jason Baker and Kenneth Katz. The firm provides three integrated services: tenant representation for national retail and restaurant brands seeking to enter or expand in the Houston market; development services focused on value-creation through renovation, repositioning, and ground-up retail projects across the Greater Houston MSA; and leasing services for properties the firm owns or manages. Notable development projects include Four Corners (110,000 SF, Tomball), Baybrook (Webster), Rice Village (5802 Kirby Drive), Port Arthur (90,000 SF, Shoppes at PA), and Lake Houston (150,000 SF, anchored by 24 Hour Fitness).

The business operates on a professional services and real estate ownership model. Revenue is generated through brokerage commissions on tenant representation and leasing transactions, plus economics from owned and developed retail properties (rental income, development fees, and disposition gains). Pricing is transaction-based and quote-driven, with no published pricing. The firm maintains 17 team members, holds a roster of 150+ national clients served since inception, and has completed 80+ development projects. The team includes CCIM designees with prior experience at firms such as Wulfe & Co., Regency Centers, EDENS, Trammell Crow, and PwC. Baker Katz is affiliated with X Team International (200+ retail real estate advisors in 45+ U.S. and Canadian markets) and is a member of ICSC.

Distribution is consultative and direct, leveraging deep local market knowledge in the Houston MSA. The firm's primary customer segments are national retail chains and restaurant brands (the latter accounting for 20+ active client relationships), with secondary exposure to healthcare providers, specialty retailers, and fitness/entertainment operators. Recent corporate activity has been characterized by ongoing retail property acquisitions in Houston-area submarkets (Tomball, Pasadena, Friendswood, League City, Willis) and a 2026 leadership transition in which John Frazier and Lunden McGill were elevated to principals. The company is privately held as Baker Katz, LLC, is founder-owned with no institutional investors, and has not raised external capital.

Name

Baker Katz

Legal name

Baker Katz, LLC

Website

https://bakerkatz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Baker Katz is a Houston-based commercial real estate firm founded in 2004 that provides tenant representation, development, and leasing services to national retail chains and restaurant brands expanding in the Greater Houston market, with 150+ clients served and 80+ development projects completed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tenant Representation: Providing tenant representation services to national retail chains and regional brands, helping them identify and secure optimal locations for their businesses in the Houston market
2. Development Services: Value creation approach to development, identifying opportunities for renovation, strategic repositioning and ground-up development of retail properties

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Baker Katz is a Houston-based commercial real estate firm providing tenant representation, retail property development, and leasing services. The firm helps national retail chains, restaurant brands, healthcare providers, and other retailers identify optimal Houston-area locations, negotiate leases, and execute development projects including renovation, repositioning, and ground-up construction of retail centers.

Product overview

Baker Katz is a Houston-based commercial real estate firm offering a unified suite of three core services: Tenant Representation, Development, and Leasing. The Tenant Representation service provides market insight-driven location identification for retailers, while Development encompasses value-creation projects including renovation, repositioning, and ground-up development of retail properties. Leasing services round out the portfolio by attracting quality tenants to Baker Katz's owned and managed properties. The company operates several named development projects including Four Corners (Tomball), Baybrook (Webster), Rice Village, Port Arthur, and Lake Houston, each representing specific retail center redevelopments or new developments in the greater Houston market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tenant Representation Tenant representation services that help retailers identify optimal locations through market insight and a consultative approach to understanding client business needs and expansion goals. Targets national retail chains, restaurant brands, and other multi-unit operators expanding into the Greater Houston market.
• Development Services Value-creation focused development identifying opportunities for renovation, strategic repositioning, and ground-up development of retail properties across the greater Houston market. Targets property owners, lenders with foreclosed assets, and investors seeking a developer-operator.
• Leasing Leasing services that consistently attract and retain quality brand names across a wide range of retail categories in Baker Katz's portfolio properties. Targets national and regional retailers seeking high-visibility locations.
• Four Corners A 110,000 square foot shopping center at the intersection of FM 2920 and SH 249 in Tomball, Texas, redeveloped by Baker Katz from a lender-foreclosed property with less than 25% occupancy to 97% leased, featuring retailers including Party City, Boot Barn, and Chipotle.
• Baybrook A two-acre development site at 820 Bay Area Blvd in Webster, Texas featuring four endcaps with wrap-around patios, fully leased to Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Snooze, MOD Pizza, and others.
• Rice Village A 9,110 square foot redeveloped building at 5802 Kirby Drive in Rice Village featuring national and local retailers including Creative Blinds, Designer Kitchen + Bath, and AT&T.
• Port Arthur (Shoppes at PA) A 90,000 square foot redevelopment at Hwy 69 and FM 365 in Port Arthur, Texas, 100% leased to Hobby Lobby, Party City, PetSmart, and others.
• Lake Houston (Shoppes at West Lake Houston) A 150,000 square foot consolidation of two shopping centers at FM 1960 and W. Lake Houston Parkway in Atascocita, anchored by 24 Hour Fitness with tenants including Verizon Wireless and Potbelly.

Named customers35 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic.

• X Team Retail AdvisorsstrategicOthersAffiliated with X Team International, an alliance of 200+ retail real estate advisors with expertise in 45+ major U.S. and Canadian markets. Jason Baker serves as past president of the organization.
• ICSCstrategicOthersMember of International Council of Shopping Centers, participating in industry events and conferences
• CCIM InstitutestrategicOthersMultiple team members hold the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation, indicating professional certification and industry recognition

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SRS Real Estate Partners: National retail-focused commercial real estate brokerage with strong Texas presence (Dallas HQ). Directly comparable because both specialize in retail tenant representation and landlord leasing services for similar national and regional clients.
• The Retail Connection: Texas-based retail-specialized commercial real estate firm offering tenant representation, leasing, and investment sales. Directly comparable in scope of services, client types, and concentration on retail real estate in Texas markets.
• Endeavor Real Estate Group: Austin-based retail-focused brokerage and development firm serving Texas. Comparable because both deliver tenant representation and retail property development services, including value-creation repositioning of underperforming centers.
• Retail Strategies: Retail real estate advisory firm providing tenant representation, site selection, and market planning for retailers expanding across the U.S. Comparable in their tenant rep focus and consultative, advisory-led approach to retailers evaluating new markets.

Broad incumbents

• JLL Retail (Houston): Houston office of a global commercial real estate services firm with substantial retail tenant representation capabilities. Competes for the same national retail tenants in Houston but as part of a much broader, multinational services platform.
• CBRE Houston Retail: Houston retail practice of the largest global commercial real estate services firm. Competes for major tenant representation and leasing mandates in the Houston market but operates at much greater scale across all property types.
• Cushman & Wakefield Houston: Global commercial real estate services firm with a Houston retail brokerage team that competes for similar tenant representation and landlord leasing assignments. Less specialized in retail than Baker Katz but overlapping in core services.
• Colliers Houston (Retail Services): Global CRE firm with a Houston retail services group providing tenant representation and agency leasing. Directly overlapping with Baker Katz's core services but with broader institutional resources and geographic coverage.
• Newmark Group: Global commercial real estate services firm with a Texas retail practice competing for tenant representation mandates from national chains. Comparable as a competing capital markets and leasing advisor, though broader in scope.
• Transwestern (Houston Retail): Mid-size national commercial real estate firm with a Houston presence and retail tenant representation capability. Comparable as a competing retail brokerage in the Houston market, offering similar tenant rep and landlord services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bakerkatz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baker-katz
• Instagraminstagram.com/bakerkatz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Baker Katz