Inform, Educate, and Connect
One of our coolest deals lately has been working with Big Country Organics! The team behind Big Country Brewing Co is brewing something really unique and it’s in the form of real estate. We worked for Bill Gillies and his team to find a site to purchase, renovate, and move into later this year.
The search began in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first site the team fell into was incredible. Two contiguous lots along West Sixth in Clarksville were enticing and the clients made an offer. During this time, I was able to introduce them to a civil engineer, architect, and land planner. The first few weeks were busy with planning, light design, and studying the site. It was during this time after a long weekend reflecting deeply on the site that they decided the challenges of Austin’s zoning on this site, the neighborhood, and the lengthy site plan exemption/site plan timeline with the City of Austin’s development challenges that they dropped the site.
Fortunately, we never stop the site selection process. We moved quickly into a South First project. This project was a great option (on the market for a while with its own challenges to site development). We had one hurdle, the flood plain, it was high and the levels wouldn’t allow the amount of renovation Big Country had planned. The site and the city were not exactly clear as to where the line was to top it off. After similar planning and design convos, the client moved on again. Unfortunately, these things happen and often due to development constraints we had to move on again.
Big Country’s Announcement: https://enjoybigcountry.com/blogs/blog/big-changes-for-big-country-closing-pflugerville-taproom-opening-new-east-austin-location
The one! We found it. This time on Austin’s East Side. We helped Bill get contiguous properties under contract along the hip and happening Webberville Road stretch just North of East Seventh. The sellers just happened to be friends of mine and had great representation by Eugene Baston, 7 Streams Realty. Our client completed the purchase in the fourth quarter of 2024 and already being far into design and planning, the team hopes to open an all day type organic cafe, brewery and garden. Congrats to Bill and his team. I do not know about y’all, but I can’t wait until they open. They're working with https://www.delineatestudio.com/ to design the site/space currently.
Educate: NNN Reconciliation Season
A client recently emailed their frustration about the landlord asking for more money. The CAM, taxes, and insurance were all a bit higher than had been estimated for the 2024 calendar year. I get this email every year from multiple clients and multiple referrals. Now, this does lead to new clients, which I love but it’s also a nagging issue for so many businesses out there.
If you are running a business and your business is a tenant in commercial property, there’s a strong chance (if you have a widely utilized NNN lease) you’re owing some money to your landlord. Here are a few suggestions of what to do:
Move! Time to use Space Squared to find new space…. ok, that was a joke. It is time to evaluate your base lease and (if the buildings have recently been purchased) any amendments to the lease.
Establish the language pertaining to NNN lease and make yourself familiar. Does your landlord pass through all CAM? Does your landlord have ability to pass through all capital and maintenance costs? How about the management fee, if your landlord utilizes third party management?
Ask me for a referral to an affordable attorney to give a review of these documents alongside you. It’s at that time you will know if you can request items to be removed or not. Once you do this with your current landlord it will not be necessary moving forward, so it’s worth the time and savings if you are at all confused.
FINAL STEP: reach out to us and let’s begin planning how to own your next building (or partner with us). That process takes a year or two to find, plan, design and close on a property (see first story about Big Country).
Connect: We helped connect an iconic spot, MEAN EYED CAT x LINX = Yummy to find the perfect food for their kitchen operations.
Danny’s been reaching out and getting to know the Distant Relatives for quite some time. On a tour of the build out for FBR’s newest concept, Old Gregg at Howard Post, Max Moreland mentioned wanting to find an operator for the kitchen again. Shortly, after I was having a conversation with Damien, Owner and Chef of Distant Relatives (truck at Meanwhile Brewing), and he informed me he’d love to find a spot for a sausage concept. Three months later they were off cooking at the iconic bar and the offering is so spot on. You’re welcome. Yummy!
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