

Walking New York City's Retail Leasing Scene with Cory Zelnik
Cory Zelnik, Founder of Zelnik & Co., shares insights on retail leasing, relationship-building, and tech’s role in navigating New York’s evolving commercial real estate market.
The Crexi Podcast explores various aspects of the commercial real estate industry in conversation with top CRE professionals. In each episode, we feature different guests to tap into their wealth of CRE expertise and explore the latest trends and updates from the world of commercial real estate.
In this episode, host Shanti Ryle, Director of Content Marketing at Crexi, sits down with Cory as he shares his journey into commercial real estate, highlighting the importance of relationships, the unique challenges of the New York retail market, and the evolution of tenant negotiations. He discusses the role of technology and social media in modern real estate practices and offers insights into building long-term client relationships. The conversation also touches on the future of data sharing in the industry and the significance of authenticity in social media engagement.
- Introduction to Commercial Real Estate
- Cory Zelnick's Journey into Real Estate
- Early Successes and Lessons Learned
- Navigating Financial Realities
- Building Long-Term Relationships
- Prospecting and Networking Strategies
- Reflections on Career Growth
- The Unique Retail Landscape of New York
- Tenant Needs and Market Dynamics
- Fast-Paced Deal Execution
- Negotiation Strategies for Landlords
- Market Shifts and Tenant Concessions
- Supporting Mom-and-Pop Retailers
- Facilitating Successful Negotiations
- Maintaining Deal Momentum
- Challenges in Leasing Data
- The Role of Relationships in Data Gathering
- The Future of Information Sharing
- Leveraging Social Media for Business
- Balancing Authenticity and Business Needs
About Cory Zelnik:
A veteran real estate broker and Founder/CEO of Zelnik & Company, Cory Zelnik has launched, crafted, and packaged some of the largest corporate real estate expansions on the east coast.
From working with banking and investment staple JPMorgan Chase and food service giants Panda Express, Smashburger, Lenwich and Dunkin Donuts, Cory has presided over and specialized in the retail needs of prominent property owners and institutions along with some of the top national retailers for more than three decades. With his independent real estate firm and team, Cory continues to solidify his name as a brand with preparedness, discipline, and integrity.
Cory prides himself on loyalty, respect, and trust, with a focus on retail space, and the value it adds to a property economically. Cory recognizes that the real estate market in the tri-state area is constantly evolving, thus so is he. His track record has mirrored the upward swing of the real estate business; growing, building, and maintaining its structure and polish since the late 1980’s. In a quickly transforming world, Zelnik & Company happily pivots in the direction of change; social media. Cory (@coryzelnik) along with his company account @zelnikco, have made great strides in entering and engaging in the social media world. Zelnik & Company understands that properly utilizing social media platforms not only boosts one’s own brand but also increases the opportunities for their clients as well.
Cory is a Graduate of University of Maryland and a member of ICSC. Cory is also the host of The Zelnik Exchange, a NYC-based podcast with a pulse on the nation’s top retail trends. He resides in Manhattan with his wife Jessica, daughter Bailey and stepson Maxx. When Cory is not running his business, his passions include running the streets of NYC and raising money for ALS, The University of Maryland and the New York Knicks.
For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi’s blog.
Ready to find your next CRE property? Visit Crexi and immediately browse 500,000+ available commercial properties for sale and lease.
Follow Crexi:
https://www.crexi.com/instagram
https://www.crexi.com/facebook
https://www.crexi.com/twitter