JLL Reveals Retail Secret Sauce

MIAMI—Jones Lang LaSalle started making a major retail push in Florida a couple of years ago. And that push is producing fruit. We caught up with JLL vice president Sean McConnell, who spearheads the firm's retail practice in South Florida, to learn more about the firm's Florida retail strategy and the factors he sees driving this demand on the restaurant side.

GlobeSt.com: How is JLL growing its footprint in Florida's retail market?

McConnell: Jones Lang LaSalle's has had an active retail practice in Florida for years, but began its local market push approximately two years ago. Under the leadership of John Lambert, the state's Retail Market Lead, we've added three new brokers and a little over 1 million square feet of new retail assignments. Among the firm's retail assignments in South Florida are The Palms at Town & Country, a 75-acre shopping center in Kendall, and the Galleria Mall, an upscale shopping destination in Fort Lauderdale.

Nationally, JLL is the largest third-party property manager and we aim to be the best and most comprehensive provider of retail services in Florida. On the tenant side, we represent a variety of national and regional retailers and restaurants across Florida, including VooDoo BBQ Grill and sports bar and grill Twin Peaks, two restaurant concepts currently in expansion mode. Additionally, we represent Sears Hometown and Outlet in Florida.

GlobeSt.com: What efforts has the company been making over the past two years to build a local retail presence in South Florida?

McConnell: JLL continues to add top brokers in the major markets across the state. We have leasing brokers with local market expertise and a strong track record of deal-making in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Tampa, and Orlando. We continue to look for the best and brightest to grow our team, as we expand our retail service lines across these key markets in the years ahead.

Next month, our company will be well-represented in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference taking place in Orlando. JLL's retail team will be showcasing our properties, making new business connections and discussing investment and growth opportunities with retailers eyeing growth in Florida.

GlobeSt.com: The demand from restaurant concepts for retail space is soaring, what factors do you see driving this demand and who are the key players on the tenant side?

McConnell: Many of the retailers scouting the market for new locations are restaurant concepts, both regional concepts looking to grow a presence in other parts of the Sunshine State and new-to-market restaurants that seek to make an entrance. We continue to see that during all economic cycles, more and more people choose to eat out.

No longer are customers saving their dining experience for the weekend, both families and individuals are ordering take-out or going to eat during the week at a quick casual restaurant. The convenience and quickness of casual dining spots is very appealing to consumers right now. Quick casual is the hottest type of food concept, with restaurants like Panera Bread, Pew Wei and Noodles seeing success, as time-constrained consumers seek a combination of healthy food and quick service.

Be sure to come back this afternoon for part two of this exclusive interview.