Exploring the Med Spa Boom with Ryan Rao of VIO Med Spa - Where We Buy #352
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Release Date: 09/19/2025
The One with Central Perk - Where We Buy #376
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Phil Colicchio is co-founder of Central Perk Coffee Company and head of Colicchio Consulting. Phil shares the origin story of how a pitch meeting at Warner Bros. about a sandwich concept unexpectedly led to a license for the globally iconic Central Perk brand from the hit TV show Friends. He discusses the challenges of raising capital without owning the intellectual property, the decision to test the concept in Boston before opening in Times Square, and lessons learned from early operational mistakes. He also covers the company's growth plans, its hub-and-spoke expansion strategy, and why...
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AI Doesn't Replace Human Judgment in Retail Real Estate - Where We Buy #375
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Paul Sill uses data and predictive analytics to help retailers, restaurants, and other brick-and-mortar businesses make site selection decisions. Paul explains the critical difference between correlation and causation in retail data, explaining that misreading data can lead to costly mistakes. He also discusses how new data sources like social media behavior and mobile foot traffic are shaping modern site selection, why AI still can't replace human judgment in real estate modeling, and the importance of validating instincts with data. Paul, who also teaches at DePaul University, emphasizes...
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Chicago: the Magnificent Mile and Beyond - Where We Buy #374
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Walter Wahlfeldt is Midwest Retail Lead at JLL. He discusses the state of retail real estate in Chicago, from the recovery of the central business district to the evolving Magnificent Mile. He covers return-to-office trends, shifting retail rents, the grocery wars heating up in the market, and what makes Chicago a top-five destination for expanding retailers. Wahlfeldt also shares lessons from his own experience as a former bakery owner and what he looks for when evaluating retail concepts. James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL. Subscribe: | ...
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From Donation Centers to Boutiques with Planet Aid - Where We Buy #373
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Uli Stosch is Chief Officer of Strategic Development at Planet Aid, Inc., a nonprofit organization that collects and resells used clothing and textiles through nearly 10,000 donation bins across 15 states. Uli explains Planet Aid's mission to divert textiles from landfills, support reuse over recycling, and fund sustainable development projects worldwide. She discusses the logistics of placing donation centers in retail locations, including lease negotiations with shopping center owners, ideal site characteristics, and overcoming industry challenges. She also covers Planet Aid's innovative...
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Tous les Jours' Path to 1,000 US Locations - Where We Buy #372
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Taeyun Kim is Chief Development Officer at CJ Foodville US, the parent company of Tous les Jours, a French-Asian bakery cafe chain with over 180 locations across 31 states. Taeyun discusses the company's ambitious expansion plans to reach 1,000 stores by 2030, explaining the brand's unique positioning as a neighborhood bakery offering fresh-baked pastries and bread with European and Asian influences. She covers the franchise-driven growth model, ideal real estate requirements (3,000 square feet in prominent locations), and the recent opening of a state-of-the-art production facility in...
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Ian Scott's Guide to Unforgettable Retail - Where We Buy #371
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Ian Scott leads retail safaris around the world. He takes listeners on a virtual tour of six distinctive stores—from Fanatics Collectibles' interactive sports collectibles space in London to Buck Mason's immersive lifestyle store in New York, Larfeuille's artisanal leather workshop in Paris, Ffern's sensory fragrance boutique in London, Singapore's DORS at Design Orchard retail incubator, and Patagonia Action Works Cafe. Ian emphasizes the enduring value of physical retail, the importance of cross-sector inspiration, and how stores can create authentic experiences through storytelling,...
info_outline![How [solidcore] Picks the Perfect Location - Where We Buy #370 show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/40171765?height=50&width=50)
How [solidcore] Picks the Perfect Location - Where We Buy #370
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Josh Rainey is Senior Director of Real Estate + Growth at [solidcore], a boutique fitness operator specializing in intense strength training workouts on custom-built reformers. [solidcore] expanded from 85 locations in 2022 to 165 today, with plans to reach 205 by the end of the year. He discusses [solidcore]'s target demographic of primarily women aged 25-35, the importance of community-driven fitness experiences, and the brand's focus on longevity and preventative wellness. Josh covers site selection strategy, ideal co-tenants like premium grocers and athleisure retailers, and how the...
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Managing the Mixx: Creating Successful Live-Work-Play Destinations - Where We Buy #369
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Sean McNamara leads The Mixx at JLL, a specialized platform for managing complex mixed-use developments across North America. McNamara explains the unique challenges of managing properties that combine office, retail, residential, hotel, and entertainment uses on a single site. He discusses the importance of creating a sense of place through strategic merchandising, placemaking, and activation, highlighting projects like Plaza Coral Gables in Florida and OCVIBE in Anaheim, California. McNamara covers the rise of sports-anchored mixed-use developments, the role of technology infrastructure, and...
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Arte Museum Expands from South Korea to NYC, LA and Orlando - Where We Buy #368
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Julia Yook is General Manager of Arte Museum New York, a 52,000-square-foot immersive media art space at Chelsea Piers. Yook explains the museum's origins in South Korea in 2020, its expansion to locations worldwide including Las Vegas and upcoming sites in Los Angeles and Orlando, and the logistics of creating multisensory experiences that combine light, sound, scent, and spatial design. She covers the museum's 14 distinct zones, the proprietary technology behind interactive features like the sketch room and cafe experience, and how the creative team in Korea designs custom exhibitions for...
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Asana Partners' Clare Walsh on Authentic Neighborhood Retail - Where We Buy #367
Where We Buy: Retail Real Estate with James Cook
Clare Walsh is Managing Director of Leasing Strategy at Asana Partners, a retail-focused investment firm with over $7 billion in assets under management. Walsh discusses the company's focus on neighborhood retail across the top 25 U.S. metropolitan areas, highlighting key properties in neighborhoods including Dallas Design District, Charlotte's South End, and Salt Lake City's East Bench. She covers current retail trends including the wellness economy, the rise of authentic Asian cuisine and beauty concepts, and the growing demand for small-format retail. Walsh also explains Asana Partners'...
info_outlineRyan Rao is Chief Development Officer at VIO Med Spa, an expanding chain in the medical aesthetics industry. Rao discusses the company’s nationwide growth, the factors driving consumer demand for med spa services, and VIO’s unique approach to site selection and real estate. He explains how VIO Med Spa differentiates itself through its retail-focused locations, spa-like environment, and comprehensive service offerings, including injectables, skin rejuvenation, and wellness treatments. Rao also covers the importance of franchisee selection, the impact of private equity investment from Freeman Spogli, and the company’s strategies for building brand consistency and operational excellence across its growing network.
James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.
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Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.