Newmark Knight Frank Retail, which provides consulting and siteselection services for retailers, has opened the new office herebecause "L.A. is a key market that retailers look at whenestablishing their game plan," says Jeffrey D. Roseman, EVP of theNew York-based company. In addition to the many US retailers thatview Los Angeles as a key market, Roseman adds, overseas retailersincreasingly are targeting L.A. as part of their expansionplans.

Beyond site selection, Roseman adds, Newmark Knight's strategyis to "take a retailer that's coming from overseas or justlaunching in the US and effectively roll them out across thecountry." One of the Southern California markets that is prime fornew retailers is Downtown L.A., Roseman comments, describingDowntown as "underserved" and one of "many hidden markets webelieve will take off."

Casil Sonmez will expand the West Coast coverage currentlyprovided by Newmark Knight Frank's San Francisco office. She joinedthe firm in 2002 at its Manhattan headquarters and, the companysays, she will maintain a strong presence in New York City whileserving as the primary point of contact for retail and restaurantclients searching for space in Southern California.