Retail Specialists
Retail Specialists is a Birmingham-based retail real estate services firm (founded 2005) offering leasing, brokerage, property management, tenant representation, development, and corporate services to property owners and retailers across eight southeastern states through offices in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Fort Worth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Retail Specialists does
Retail Specialists, LLC is a privately-held, Birmingham, Alabama-based commercial real estate services firm founded in 2005 by Robert Jolly (President & CEO) and Mead Silsbee (COO). The firm provides integrated retail real estate services across five product lines: leasing and brokerage (third-party landlord and tenant representation); property management (full-service operations for retail centers including Canton Marketplace, Shoppes at Palm Pointe, and Tiger Point Pavilion); tenant representation (multi-unit site selection and rollout strategy for national and regional retailers); development (mixed-use and ground-up projects including Arcadia in Huntsville's Cummings Research Park and The Waites in downtown Birmingham); and corporate services (lease administration and portfolio management for growing multi-location retail and restaurant operators). It is licensed across eight southeastern states (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, SC, TN) and operates regional offices in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Fort Worth.
The company generates revenue through four distinct streams: (i) transaction-based commissions on lease and sale closings (leasing and brokerage, tenant representation); (ii) recurring monthly property management retainers structured as a percentage of gross revenues or square footage; (iii) developer promote economics and professional fees on ground-up and mixed-use development JVs such as Arcadia (with Bobo Development Group and Boaz Ventures) and Woodland Trails; and (iv) multi-year corporate-services contracts for portfolio administration, exemplified by the Hollywood Feed engagement spanning 172 locations in 19 states. Pricing is bespoke per engagement; no published tiering exists.
Customer segments include institutional property owners and REITs (landlord representation), national and regional retailers/restaurants (tenant representation), developers (JV partners), and — through sister company Retail Strategies — municipalities seeking retail recruitment. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales executed by a team of executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, and associates, supplemented by a property listing portal (properties.retailspecialists.com), referral flow from the Retail Strategies municipal advisory network, and an outsourced thought-leadership content engine (Bill Read's Read Reports and Guess the Retailer Game) that functions as a top-of-funnel credibility channel across LinkedIn, the company newsletter, and trade press including CoStar.
Retail Specialists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retail Specialists
- Legal name
- Retail Specialists, LLC
- Website
- https://retailspecialists.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Retail Specialists is a Birmingham-based retail real estate services firm (founded 2005) offering leasing, brokerage, property management, tenant representation, development, and corporate services to property owners and retailers across eight southeastern states through offices in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Fort Worth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retail Specialists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Real Estate Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail Brokerage (BPAJABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Tenant Representation (BPAJALAB), Retail Property Management (BPAJAGAB)
Keywords
Where Retail Specialists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Retail Specialists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Leasing & Brokerage Services: Third-party leasing and brokerage services for retail properties. The firm represents both landlords (property owners) and tenants (retailers) in lease negotiations, renewals, and new transactions. Revenue is earned through commissions on completed transactions, typically a percentage of lease value.
- Tenant Representation: Exclusive tenant representation services for retailers and restaurant chains expanding in the Southeast. Advisory on site selection, lease negotiation, and multi-unit roll-out strategy. Revenue generated through representation fees and transaction commissions.
- Property Management: Full-service property management for retail centers across AL, FL, GA, MS, TN, and KY. Services include collections, preventative maintenance, vendor management, tenant relationships, budgeting, capital planning, and monthly financial reporting for property owners.
- Development Services: New project development, land development, land use planning, and acquisition of commercial properties. The firm develops mixed-use and retail projects (e.g., The Arcadia, The Waites, 79C) either independently or in joint ventures with development partners.
- Corporate Services: Strategic consulting and portfolio management for growing retail and restaurant companies. Services include lease and transaction management, project and construction management, strategic planning, and market research and analytics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Leasing & Brokerage - Commission-based commercial real estate services |
| Subscription | Monthly | Property Management - Managed services retainer |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Corporate Services - Advisory and transaction management |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Retail Specialists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Retail Specialists provides full-service retail real estate services to property owners, retailers, developers, and municipalities across the Southeastern United States. The firm represents landlords and tenants in lease negotiations, manages retail centers, executes multi-unit retailer expansion strategies, and develops mixed-use and retail projects both independently and in joint ventures. Revenue is generated through brokerage commissions, tenant representation fees, property management retainers, and project-based development and corporate services engagements.
Product overview
Retail Specialists operates as a single unified commercial real estate services firm offering integrated leasing and brokerage, tenant/retailer representation, property management, development, and corporate services. The company manages a portfolio of retail properties across the southeastern United States and provides strategic advisory services for both property owners and retailers. Their services are delivered through a collaborative, team-based approach rather than as discrete software products or modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Leasing and Brokerage Core commercial real estate service providing third-party lease negotiation, transaction management, and brokerage services for retail properties, representing both landlords (property owners) and tenants (retailers) in lease negotiations, renewals, and new transactions. Revenue is earned through commissions on completed transactions, typically a percentage of lease value.
- Tenant Representation
- Property Management
- Development
- Corporate Services
- Municipal Consulting
Quantifiable outcome
- Managed and leased retail properties including 352,000 SF Canton Marketplace, 131,772 SF Palm Pointe, 66,435 SF Tiger Point Pavilion, and multiple other centers across the Southeast
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Retail Specialists
Customer profileNamed customers35 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Retail Specialists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Retail Specialists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, minor and core.
- Atlantic RetailmajorRepresented ULTA Beauty in the lease transaction for the Sylacauga, AL location at Payton Park Shopping Center. Bill Read and Joe Strauss represented the landlord (Nelkin Real Estate Co.) while Atlantic Retail represented ULTA Beauty.
- Bobo Development GroupflagshipJoint development partner for Arcadia mixed-use project in Huntsville, AL. Bobo Development Group (Florence, AL) brings commercial real estate investment expertise; started in 1945 by H.M. Bobo. Arcadia is a 6-story mixed-use development with 12,000 SF office, 7,000 SF retail/restaurant, and 250 residential units.
- Boaz VenturesflagshipJoint development partner for Arcadia mixed-use project in Huntsville, AL alongside Bobo Development Group and Retail Specialists. Arcadia is being developed by the three-party partnership.
- Capstone Building CorporationmajorGeneral contractor for Arcadia development in Huntsville, AL. Capstone Building Corporation has started construction on the six-story mixed-use project at 4810 Bradford Drive, Cummings Research Park.
- Williams Blackstock EngineeringmajorDesign and engineering firm for Arcadia mixed-use development in Huntsville, AL. Responsible for architectural and structural engineering design of the 6-story project.
- Cobblestone HotelsmajorRetail Specialists represents Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in their expansion into Alabama and the Southeast. Identified Cullman as the first Alabama market and helped navigate municipal incentives with the City of Cullman. First Cobblestone hotel in Alabama breaking ground August 2022. Cobblestone is headquartered in Neenah, WI with 160+ hotels across 29 states.
- AVR RealtymajorOwner of Columbus Park Crossing shopping center (Columbus, GA). Retail Specialists, through Beau Young, facilitated Burlington (28,000 SF) and Conn's (21,000 SF) new stores at Columbus Park Crossing, backfilling ~70,000 SF of former Toys R Us space. AVR Realty has been in business 50+ years with 5M+ SF of retail.
- Prominence HomesmajorHome builder selected for Woodland Trails residential development in Bessemer, AL. 159 homes estimated at $269,000-$299,000. Prominence Homes is committed to affordable, high-quality workforce housing. Development broke ground March 2022.
- Sain AssociatesminorCivil engineering firm handling site work for Woodland Trails residential development in Bessemer, AL. 159-home neighborhood being developed by Retail Specialists.
- Carcel & G ConstructionminorSite work contractor for Woodland Trails residential development in Bessemer, AL.
- Retail StrategiescoreSister company and the nation's leading municipal advisory firm focused on helping communities attract retail. Retail Specialists leverages Retail Strategies' community relationships and nationwide network for retail recruitment data and deal flow. Both firms share an entrepreneurial culture and collaborative approach. Retail Strategies is led by President Lacy Beasley.
- The R Co'scoreParent holding company and 'family of companies' that includes Retail Specialists, Retail Strategies, and RAM Development. The umbrella brand encompasses commercial real estate services, municipal advisory, and development operations.
- ULI AlabamaminorProud sponsor of ULI Alabama. Urban Land Institute is a prominent global real estate organization focused on responsible land use and creating sustainable communities. Sponsorship demonstrates commitment to the Southeast real estate community.
- CORE ProgramminorProud partner of the CORE Program, a retail/community development initiative. The partnership aligns with Retail Specialists' mission to support retail recruitment and community development across the Southeast.
- RAM DevelopmentcorePart of The R Co's family of companies alongside Retail Specialists and Retail Strategies. RAM Development handles development projects within the integrated real estate services ecosystem.
- Nelkin Real Estate Co.majorOwner/landlord of Payton Park Shopping Center in Sylacauga, AL. Represented by Bill Read and Joe Strauss of Retail Specialists in the ULTA Beauty lease transaction (August 2025).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Retail Specialists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SRS Real Estate Partners: SRS Real Estate Partners is a retail-focused commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, property management, development, and capital services to retailers, landlords, and investors nationwide. It is the closest direct peer to Retail Specialists given the shared retail-only focus, integrated service lines, and multi-state operation model.
- Foundry Commercial: Foundry Commercial is a Southeast-anchored full-service commercial real estate firm providing leasing, property management, tenant rep, and development services. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC with offices across the Southeast, it directly mirrors Retail Specialists' regional full-service retail CRE model.
Broad incumbents
- Marcus & Millichap: Marcus & Millichap is a national commercial real estate investment sales and financing firm with deep retail brokerage specialization. Comparability is strongest on retail investment sales and net lease brokerage, though it is much larger and operates nationally.
- Newmark Group: Newmark is a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a substantial retail practice covering tenant representation, landlord representation, and capital markets. Comparable as a competitor for large national retail mandates; vastly larger scale.
- Cushman & Wakefield: Cushman & Wakefield is a global real estate services firm with a dedicated Retail practice spanning brokerage, valuation, and property management. Comparable as a competitor for enterprise retail clients, with broader geographic and service breadth.
- CBRE Group: CBRE is the world's largest commercial real estate services firm, with a major Retail occupier and investor services practice that competes for the same enterprise retail tenants and institutional landlords.
- JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): JLL is a global real estate services firm whose Retail Leasing & Tenant Representation practice directly competes for national retailer rollout mandates in the same Southeast markets served by Retail Specialists.
- Colliers International: Colliers provides commercial real estate services globally, with an active Retail Services group competing in landlord representation, tenant representation, and retail investment across major US markets.
Others
- Phillips Edison & Company: Phillips Edison & Company is a publicly-traded retail REIT and net-lease operator that both owns shopping centers (a landlord client type) and competes for third-party property management assignments. Relevant as an adjacent buyer/competitor of managed retail assets.
- Kimco Realty: Kimco Realty is one of the largest publicly-traded retail REITs and a major shopping center owner. It is comparable as a landlord-type client and competitor for third-party management/leasing mandates on grocery-anchored and open-air retail centers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Retail Specialists social profiles
Digital presenceRetail Specialists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retail Specialists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Retail Specialists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retail Specialists 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 Retail Specialists
What does Retail Specialists do?
Retail Specialists provides full-service retail real estate services to property owners, retailers, developers, and municipalities across the Southeastern United States. The firm represents landlords and tenants in lease negotiations, manages retail centers, executes multi-unit retailer expansion strategies, and develops mixed-use and retail projects both independently and in joint ventures. Revenue is generated through brokerage commissions, tenant representation fees, property management retainers, and project-based development and corporate services engagements.
Is Retail Specialists a public or private company?
Retail Specialists is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Retail Specialists founded?
Retail Specialists was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Retail Specialists based?
Retail Specialists is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Retail Specialists make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Leasing & Brokerage Services are the primary driver. The others are tenant Representation, property Management, development Services and corporate Services.
Who are Retail Specialists's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SRS Real Estate Partners and Foundry Commercial. Broad incumbents are Marcus & Millichap, Newmark Group, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE Group, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) and Colliers International. Others are Phillips Edison & Company and Kimco Realty.
Does Retail Specialists have an API?
No public API is recorded for Retail Specialists.
What industry is Retail Specialists in?
Retail Specialists's product category is Retail Real Estate Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJABAB, Retail Brokerage, with a secondary code of BPAJALAB, Retail Tenant Representation. Its NAICS code is 53121 and its SIC code is 6531.