What Graffito Sp does

Graffito SP is a Boston-based retail real estate advisory and investment firm founded in 2007 that operates at the intersection of master planning, retail leasing, and branding. The firm serves institutional landlords and developers (including MITIMCo, DivcoWest, New Balance Development Group, Related Beal, and EQT Exeter) alongside retail and restaurant tenants, providing integrated services spanning neighborhood strategy, urban design, retail leasing brokerage, retail development, and branding through its Graffito ID (GID) creative division. Its service model is designed to engage at project inception and extend through the occupancy loop, covering master planning, project advocacy, pre-leasing and merchandising, ongoing leasing, tenant management, and trade area research.

The firm operates four primary revenue streams: retail leasing brokerage, real estate advisory and consulting, branding and creative services (Graffito ID), and joint venture partnerships through its Neighborhood Investments + Partnerships practice. Pricing is custom and quote-based, with no public disclosure. In May 2025, Graffito launched BasePlus, a custom-built software application that automates percentage rent tracking, sales reporting, rent calculation, and payment processing across commercial real estate portfolios; this represents the firm's first productized software offering. The firm also operates the Small Business Tool Kit (an educational resource produced with the Boston Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion) and The Graffito Podcast as content marketing and community-building assets.

Graffito's value proposition is differentiated from pure-play brokerages through its integrated advisory-plus-leasing-plus-branding model, its equity-focused tenant curation (2025 leasing: 60%+ local independents, 45%+ female-owned, 40%+ BIPOC-owned), and its multi-disciplinary team combining real estate, law, urban planning, and creative capabilities. The firm is privately held with no institutional investment or PE backing, headquartered at 144 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA, with a regional footprint across Greater Boston and Providence, RI.

Name

Graffito Sp

Legal name

Graffito SP

Website

https://graffito.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Graffito SP is a Boston-based retail real estate advisory and investment firm serving institutional landlords, developers, and retail tenants with integrated master planning, retail leasing, and branding services, recently expanded into Providence, RI and launched the BasePlus percentage rent SaaS platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Leasing Services: Brokerage and advisory services for retail space leasing on behalf of landlords. Includes ground floor activation and retail leasing brokerage services for mixed-use projects.
2. Real Estate Advisory: Strategic planning, project vision refinement, pre-development retail space planning, retail merchandising, and development consulting for real estate projects.
3. Branding and Creative Services: Graffito ID provides integrated creative services including branding, environmental graphics, wayfinding systems, digital/web design, photography, and video production for clients.
4. Joint Venture Partnerships: Neighborhood Investments + Partnerships practice involving direct partnering on joint ventures with developers and institutions on longer-term real estate plays with aligned economics.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Graffito SP is a retail real estate advisory and investment firm that provides integrated services across neighborhood strategy and urban design, retail leasing brokerage, retail development, and branding and creative services. It serves institutional landlords, mixed-use property developers, and retail and restaurant tenants, with ground floor activation as a defining focus. The firm also operates Graffito ID (GID), its in-house creative services division, and BasePlus, a proprietary software application for percentage rent tracking.

Product overview

Graffito is a Boston-based retail real estate advisory and investment firm that operates at the intersection of master planning, retail leasing, and branding. The company offers an integrated suite of services including Neighborhood Strategy + Urban Design, Retail Leasing, Retail Development, and Branding + Creative Services through its divisions. Its core offerings are complemented by several distinct products: BasePlus (a proprietary software application for percentage rent tracking and management), the Small Business Tool Kit (a guide/resource for first-time business owners), The Graffito Podcast (media content), and Video Resources (educational content). Graffito ID (GID) serves as the creative services division providing branding, environmental graphics, digital services, and photography. The company also maintains a portfolio of real estate projects across Greater Boston and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Graffito ID (GID): Award-winning integrated full-service creative team offering branding, environmental graphics, digital services, and photography.

Products and services

• Retail Leasing
• Neighborhood Strategy + Urban Design
• Retail Development
• Branding + Creative Services (Graffito ID / GID)
• BasePlus

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2007, led hundreds of retail real estate projects in Greater Boston and beyond
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EQT ExetercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership with EQT Exeter for Providence, RI market expansion. Graffito leads leasing, management and long-term success of retail assets in Providence's Jewelry District, including 20,000 SF of ground floor space in Emblem 125 (249-unit residential building). Also pursuing Parcel 5 bid with 195 District.
• Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Graffito began lease work with AHF on broad Advisory Services scope for Charles River Speedway redevelopment at 525 Western Avenue. Over five years, developed actionable retail development and leasing plan, articulated to public agencies, and executed plan for the historic property.
• MITIMCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraffito working with MIT Investment Management Company since 2009 for retail planning, permitting, development, and leasing for assets in Kendall and Central Square, Cambridge. Spans planning through leasing phases, resulting in dozens of newly activated storefronts.
• DivcoWestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2015 for planning, development and leasing services. Graffito helped transform former railyards into Cambridge Crossing 43-acre mixed-use neighborhood with best-in-class local restaurants and retailers.
• New Balance Development GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2015 for planning, development and leasing services. Added critical services and cultural attractions to Boston Landing including Brighton Bowl, cafes, restaurants, Cambridge Naturals, and Roadrunner 3,500-person venue.
• Related BealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraffito providing retail planning and branding for Channelside 1.1M SF mixed-use development in Boston's Historic Fort Point Neighborhood with 45,000 SF retail space.
• FoxRock PropertiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoxRock partnered with Graffito ID for naming and brand identity for SwitchPoint Quincy life science development. Team developed complete brand identity, website, and marketing materials.
• Oxford PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOxford engaged Graffito to design unique window signage for restaurant space at 222 Berkeley Street in Boston's Back Bay. Also created videos showcasing life science properties for marketing.
• Northpond PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraffito ID created a 76-page 'Look Book' publication to showcase Northpond's properties. Northpond is a real estate investment firm with over $1B in total gross assets.
• Boston Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Boston Mayor's Office to produce a Commercial Leasing Workshop based on Graffito's Small Business Tool Kit, helping small business owners navigate retail real estate.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Colliers International: Global professional services and investment management company with retail real estate services. Angela VanArsdale's prior background at Colliers underscores direct overlap in retail leasing brokerage.
• JLL: Global real estate services firm offering leasing, advisory, and asset management across retail and mixed-use. Overlaps with Graffito on landlord retail planning and tenant representation engagements.
• Newmark: Global CRE services firm with a sizable retail leasing practice. Competes with Graffito on retail leasing mandates at institutional landlord clients but offers a much broader capital markets, valuation, and advisory portfolio.
• CBRE: World's largest commercial real estate services firm with significant retail practice. Competes for retail leasing mandates on institutional mixed-use projects like the ones Graffito serves.
• Avison Young: Global CRE services firm with retail leasing capabilities. Directly comparable to Graffito on landlord and tenant retail representation and broader advisory mandates.

Direct peers

• Ripco Real Estate: Specialized retail real estate brokerage with strong Northeast/Mid-Atlantic presence. Directly comparable to Graffito on landlord retail leasing, tenant representation, and mixed-use ground floor activation.
• Mid-America Real Estate: Retail-specialized investment sales and leasing firm. Comparable to Graffito's retail leasing practice and is commonly engaged on the same type of mixed-use landlord mandates.
• SRS Real Estate Partners: National retail-focused commercial real estate advisory and brokerage firm serving landlords and tenants. Closely mirrors Graffito's retail leasing + tenant representation franchise at a larger national scale.
• Trademark Real Estate: Retail leasing and investment sales brokerage focused on tenant and landlord representation. Directly comparable business model to Graffito's retail leasing services.

Others

• Kimco Realty: Large publicly traded retail REIT with extensive landlord relationships in mixed-use and shopping center retail. Indirectly comparable — Graffito serves comparable landlord clients and competes for tenant relationships with REIT property managers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/graffitosp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/graffito-sp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Graffito Sp