R.J. Brunelli & Co. President: New Jersey Retailers' Adaptable Real Estate Strategies Are Paying Off

In panel discussion at commercial real estate conference, Danielle Brunelli lauds strategic flexibility of chains such as Lidl, Sephora and T.J. Maxx.

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R.J. Brunelli & Co.

Mar 05, 2020, 08:32 ET

OLD BRIDGE, N.J., March 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Retailers like Lidl, Sephora and T.J. Maxx are ramping up their competitiveness across New Jersey by staying flexible on key real estate decisions, said Danielle Brunelli, President and Principal at R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC, during a panel discussion at the New Jersey Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conference.

Danielle Brunelli: "There are only so many great sites out there. The tenants that are willing to stay flexible are the ones we're seeing make deals happen."

"Initially, Lidl was intent on owning its own real estate and sticking to its prototypical store size and this is part of what slowed the German grocer's expansion in New Jersey and elsewhere," Brunelli said at the Feb. 13 conference, sponsored by Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal. "However, Lidl has loosened its real estate requirements and is growing faster as a result, both by selectively building new stores and filling vacancies at former Pathmark and A&P locations."

Founded in 1976, R.J. Brunelli & Co. is a retail real estate brokerage that serves both tenants and landlords. During the panel ("Retail and Mixed-Use Projects: Opportunities and Trends"), Brunelli shared her observations from the field. The veteran broker represents chains such as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Sally Beauty, Massage Envy, European Wax Center, and Modern Acupuncture, to name a few.

Brunelli and her fellow panelists, in discussing the retail landscape, agreed that well-located grocery-anchored centers still perform well. She was joined on the panel by Chuck Lanyard, President of the Goldstein Group; Anthony DeSenzo, EVP and Head of Commercial Lending for SB One Bank; and James Aries, SVP and Director of Acquisitions for Urstadt Biddle. "Plenty of grocers are still expanding, including ShopRite, Whole Foods Market, Lidl, and Aldi. " Brunelli noted. "Generally speaking, grocery-anchored properties are among the safest bets for investors."

But for grocers, finding sites in New Jersey's tight real estate market can be a challenge. Lidl, for one, has shown a willingness to move into properties that formerly had longstanding vacancies, such as Lawrence (Township) Shopping Center on Route 1, Brunelli noted. Securing such anchors can bolster landlords' leasing efforts. "That center recently signed, not just Lidl, but also LA Fitness, Dollar Tree and AutoZone," she said. "It's just one example of how a flexible grocer like Lidl can turn a shopping center around."

Other chains would do well to consider whether greater flexibility—on owned-versus-leased real estate, prototype sizes, lease language and other key decisions—could benefit their expansion plans, Brunelli said. "There are only so many great sites out there. The tenants that are willing to stay flexible are the ones we're seeing make deals happen."

Sephora's record-setting expansion, she added, hinged on its decision to move out of malls and into higher-end strip centers. "Today, we're accustomed to seeing Sephora, Sally Beauty and ULTA Beauty locate in these properties, but that wasn't always the case," Brunelli said. "It's also important to remember that these tenants are often willing to downsize quite a bit to secure sites with the maximum potential for traffic and sales."

The extraordinary success of TJX Cos. Inc.—operator of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and other concepts—also owes in large measure to flexibility, Brunelli noted. "TJX continues to grow and put pressure on other retailers by doing a great job giving people the merchandise and experience they want," she said. "TJX has had the flexibility to figure out what actually works in our economy."

About R.J. Brunelli & Co.
R.J. Brunelli & Co. serves as exclusive broker for 31 existing retail properties with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) exceeding 2.0 million square feet, and five properties for sale. The properties are located throughout New Jersey. The firm also serves as exclusive or preferred tenant representative for approximately 20 retail, restaurant and service chains. These include representation in various New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania counties for such companies as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Sally Beauty Supply, Jersey Strong, Urban Bricks Pizza, Modern Acupuncture, European Wax Center, Asian Food Markets, and Legend Park—the latter, a national account.

Press contacts: At R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC, Danielle Brunelli, President, (732) 721-5800; At Jaffe Communications, Bill Parness, (908) 789-0700, [email protected]; or Elisa Krantz, (908)-789-0700.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Danielle Brunelli, President of R.J. Brunelli & Co., is available as a resource for articles related to retail real estate. Please see media contacts at end of release.

SOURCE R.J. Brunelli & Co.