In this episode of Deal Flow Friday, David Moghavem sits down with Brandon Cohan, Founder and CEO of BCRE, one of the leading names in LA’s high-street retail scene. The conversation dives into the dynamics of retail real estate in Los Angeles, from Brentwood’s renaissance and the “Kreation Effect”, to the challenges restaurants face with labor costs, rents, and shifting consumer behaviors. Brandon shares insights on post-COVID retail resilience, the regional reinvention of LA neighborhoods, and how adaptive reuse and experiential retail are shaping the future. He also emphasizes the importance of community engagement, humility, and relationships as the cornerstone for long-term success in real estate. This episode offers a rare, candid look at what’s really happening on the ground in LA retail, blending market intelligence with personal lessons from Brandon’s journey building BCRE after his time as Vice President of CBRE.
00:00 – Introduction of Brandon Cohan & BCRE’s Rise
04:00 – Retail Market Challenges: Vacancy, Absorption & Labor Costs
07:45 – COVID’s Impact and Neighborhood Reinvention
08:50 – Brentwood’s Renaissance
10:38 – The “Kreation Effect”
14:38 – The Fate of Big Box Retail & Adaptive Reuse Opportunities
18:50 – Outdoor Shopping Centers & East Coast Trends
21:00 – Miami Design District "Destination Retail"
22:10 – Experiential Retail vs. Downturn Resilience
25:00 – Generational Shifts in Consumer & Business Trends
27:00 – Restaurant Struggles: Labor, Rents & Decision Making
30:30 – Exodus from LA, Entertainment Industry Decline, & Competitive Leasing
33:10 – Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, and High-End Leasing Competition
34:40 – Third Street: From Heyday to Recovery
37:10 – Robertson Boulevard: Evolving, Not Declining
41:00 – Emerging Markets: Highland Park, Echo Park, Marina del Rey, Pasadena
43:10 – Brandon’s Journey: Leaving CBRE to Found BCRE
47:10 – Relationships, Networks & Business Philosophy
49:40 – Advice for Restaurants: Humility & Community Engagement
51:30 – Closing Thoughts: Community, Resilience & LA’s Future