State of San Francisco's RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS

Reinvigorating San Francisco's Retail Scene, Exploring the Future of Restaurants, Market Challenges, Profitability, and Financing

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  Michael Van Every

  Michael Van Every is the President and Managing Partner of Republic Urban Properties, the Bay Area flagship of the Republic Family of Companies. Mr. Van Every works with Federal, State, and Local governments on the creation and development of ‘smart growth’ projects, such as master-planned communities near transportation hubs; urban mixed-use projects near major employment centers; and innovative, public-private partnerships. The Republic Family of Companies is known for developing institutional-quality real estate throughout the United States, from land development, to historic adaptive reuse, to shopping malls. In his 25 years of working experience representing major institutional and private real estate developers in the greater Bay Area, Van Every has earned the reputation as a man with the leadership, the knowledge, the experience, and tenacity to see complicated projects through from land acquisition to completion. Under Van Every’s leadership, RUP has gained national attention for its Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects at key transit stations working as the premier public-private partner with many transit authorities across California. Since 2006, as the managing partner of RUP, Van Every has been involved with the planning, financing, construction, and delivery of 1,238 multifamily units and 145,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space. In addition to the multifamily pipeline, RUP has approximately 380 hotels rooms, 151,000 square feet of office, and 120,000 square feet of retail in various stages of development. The estimated market value among projects is projected at $1.5 billion in value. A third-generation San Jose native, Van Every holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University at Fresno. Van Every is an active member of San Jose Rotary Club as well as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He also serves as a Board Member on Santa Clara County Catholic Charities. Michael is married and lives with his wife Jennifer and Jacob in the Willow Glen Neighborhood of San Jose.

  Republic Urban Properties

  President and Managing Partner

  Michael Van Every

  President and Managing Partner

  Republic Urban Properties

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  Marisa Rodriguez

  Marisa Rodriguez is the CEO of Union Square Alliance, a downtown association dedicated to enhancing San Francisco's Union Square District, a key destination and economic center for the Bay Area. Spanning 27 city blocks and accounting for $21 billion in assessed rates, it makes up 3% of the city's total assessed value. Under her leadership, she has led the Alliance to new heights, elevating its role as a destination marketing organization and reshaping the narrative of the square to attract visitors. Rodriguez, a visionary and solutions-driven leader, was brought in to help catalyze a turnaround in the district and meet the challenges of the post-pandemic era. She has crafted a forward-thinking strategy that reimagines the crucial role of zoning and other key elements for the long-term health and vitality of the district. Her goal is to help support the area’s transformation into a thriving urban neighborhood that is well-positioned to succeed in the 21st century. Rodriguez understands that strategic partnerships and collective work with community leaders, legislators, and other key decision-makers are crucial to achieving success. Her track record of creating positive change in various industries, including tourism, law enforcement, and nonprofit management, attests to her exceptional leadership skills. She believes that a safe and clean environment is the foundation for any successful community, as she often says, 'You cannot pass-go without clean and safe.' She has successfully implemented solutions that keep the visitor experience top of mind, given the 12,000 hotel rooms in the district. She also champions the safety of Union Square's workers and residents. Additionally, she has worked to help legislate policies that create flexible zoning to attract new business, ensuring the continued growth of the district. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is another defining aspect of her career. She continues to prioritize these values by ensuring that Union Square is attractive to everyone as a place for celebrating life's moments coining the phrase, “There is something for everyone in Union Square.” Post-pandemic, her leadership was critical in navigating the challenges and pivoting effectively. As a result, footfall has increased by ~102% YOY (July ‘21 vs. ‘22). Currently, she is envisioning the next phase of Union Square by developing the 2022 Union Square Alliance Strategic Plan. Her plan has been embraced by the community, Mayor London Breed, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, and various key department heads.

  Union Square Alliance

  CEO

  Marisa Rodriguez

  CEO

  Union Square Alliance

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  Pete Sittnick

  Pete Sittnick is a longstanding operator on the San Francisco restaurant scene who has served as director of project development at Pat Kuleto Restaurants since joining the company in 2001. Sittnick has opened, operated, and supervised more than twenty restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country, including Martini House, and Kuleto's Italian Restaurant. He has been the managing partner with Pat Kuleto at Waterbar and EPIC Steak on the Embarcadero since their 2008 opening, and in 2011, Sittnick became the executive director of restaurant operations for Pat Kuleto Restaurants, which includes Boulevard, Farallon and Jardiniere. Sittnick has 30 years of experience in the Bay Area restaurant industry. He first teamed with Pat Kuleto in 1988 when he was the General Manager of Kuleto's Italian Restaurant on Powell Street in Union Square. Under his direction and in partnership with Pat's design of the innovative Italian eatery, Kuleto's achieved annual sales revenue of over (9 million and won both local and international acclaim. During his 12-year career with the Kimpton Group, first as a General Manager and working his way up as Regional Director of Operations, Sittnick was responsible for opening and operating many highly successful Kimpton restaurants such as Splendido, Grand Cafe, Harry Denton's and Puccini & Pinetti. Based on the success of the first model, he opened a second Kuleto's in Burlingame and other distinctive restaurants in Portland, Seattle, Denver, and Salt Lake City. His role as an integral part of Kimpton's management team helped grow their restaurant portfolio from 4 to 25 in less than a decade. He credits the late Bill Kimpton as his foremost mentor and motivator in the hospitality business. Sittnick grew up in Michigan and received his business degree from the University of Michigan. He currently serves as the President of Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and is involved in many charitable fundraisers in the Bay Area. Additionally, Sittnick teaches voluntarily at the hospitality programs at City College and the University of San Francisco.

  EPIC Steak

  Managing Partner

  Bringing 40 years of experience in fine dining operations

  Pete Sittnick

  Managing Partner

  EPIC Steak

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  Cyrus Sanandaji

  Cyrus Sanandaji is the founder and managing principal of Presidio Bay Ventures, a commercial real estate investment and development firm focused on the design, construction and long-term operation of a diverse set of product types for private and public sector tenants across the United States.

  Presidio Bay Ventures

  Managing Principal

  Cyrus Sanandaji

  Managing Principal

  Presidio Bay Ventures

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  Karl Hasz

  President

  Hasz Construction

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  Ali McEvoy

  Ali McEvoy, Partner-Retail for Maven Commercial, has developed strong expertise in landlord and tenant representation in retail markets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ali has deep knowledge of the retail leasing life cycle and prides herself on seeing the process through from out-of-the-ground development and merchandising all the way to lease execution. Going beyond the retail baselines of cost, amenities, and free space, Ali studies a complex network of traditional leasing strategies, social media trends, and fashion-setting online authors. Ali began her retail leasing career with Johnson Hoke focused on the Union Square and Financial District submarkets. After the firm was acquired by Colliers, Ali spent close to a decade focusing on landlord and tenant representation work until she moved to Westfield-URW to direct leasing at their San Francisco Centre and Galleria at Roseville properties. At Westfield-URW, she worked with brands such as Vinfast, See's Candies, Ghirardelli and Pendleton Woolen Mills. Over the years, Ali has represented established landlords such as Boston Properties, Kilroy, Hines, and Beacon Capital Partners – and also represented established brands such as The Hundreds, Huff, Itoya Japan, Marin Sun Farms, Stussy, and Illy Coffee.

  Maven Commercial

  Partner, Retail

  Moderator

  Ali McEvoy

  Partner, Retail

  Maven Commercial

Attracting and Retaining Tenants in a Volatile Market

Discussing the Next Wave of Retail and Restaurants, Lease Structures, Incentives, Site Selection, and Design Trends

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  Laurie Thomas

  What started as a personal love of food and a side business venture as a restaurant investor turned into a full career for Laurie Thomas, owner of Nice Ventures, which owns and manages Rose’s Café and Terzo, in San Francisco. In January 2020 Thomas took on the Executive Director for the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, a nonprofit trade organization focused on helping bay area restaurants survive and thrive. In this role she led the restaurants through the numerous challenges with San Francisco’s health restrictions and closures during COVID, and helped advocate for the Shared Spaces program in San Francisco. Thomas holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is on the Board of SF Travel, and the honorary board of Meals on Wheels of San Francisco.

  Golden Gate Restaurant Association

  Executive Director

  Laurie Thomas

  Executive Director

  Golden Gate Restaurant Association

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  Alexandra Collins

  Alex, more commonly known as “Collins,” is a Director within Tishman Speyer’s Acquisition and Development group, focusing on Mission Rock in San Francisco. Collins has worked on Mission Rock since September 2019. She played a pivotal role in raising equity and construction loan placement for Phase 1. She also supported $100M+ in municipal bond issuances to fund horizontal infrastructure costs for the project. Most recently, Collins leads retail leasing and commercial placemaking efforts at Mission Rock. She is in process of leasing ~50K SF of ground floor retail, with a focus on local and minority-owned businesses, expected to open in early 2024. Prior to joining Tishman Speyer, Collins was an Investment Sales Associate at Eastdil Secured, where she underwrote and marketed CRE equity and financing transactions across the West coast. She also worked as a Commercial Real Estate Analyst at Wells Fargo. Alex holds her BBA in Corporate Finance with a concentration in Commercial Real Estate and a Minor in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin. She remains involved in UT Austin’s Real Estate Board, an active member of Arche (CRE women’s group), and graduate of NAIOP’s Young Professionals Group (“YPG”). In her free time, Collins enjoys volunteering with Muttville and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (“LBFE”), and loves frequenting San Francisco’s many amazing restaurants (and bars).

  Tishman Speyer

  Director, Development

  Working on Mission Rock, one of San Francisco's largest mixed-use projects

  Alexandra Collins

  Director, Development

  Tishman Speyer

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  Bob Partrite

  Bob Partrite is the Chief Operating Officer for Simco Restaurants on Pier 39 in San Francisco. Simco has 4 full service restaurants and a European style coffee & pastry shop. Bob started his restaurant career in Ventura, Ca back in 1986. After graduating from the California Culinary Academy Bob continued his career cooking in various restaurants as Miss Pearl’s Jam House, Tra Vigne, Buckeye Roadhouse and Avalon. He joined Simco as the Executive Chef of the Pier Market restaurant in 1995. Since then Simco has grown to 5 restaurants and through the years Bob’s position and responsibilities have changed. In 2009 the education department from the Aquarium of the Bay introduced Bob to the Seafood watch program and the importance of serving sustainable seafood. In the summer of 2011 Fog Harbor Fish became the restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 to be recognized by Monterey’s Seafood Watch program. In the summer of 2013 Wipeout Bar & Grill and the Pier Market restaurant joined on as Seafood Watch partners as well making Simco Restaurants a sustainable seafood company. As an avid wine collector his favorites are Red Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet, Bob enjoys learning more about wine while sharing treasures from his cellar with friends and family.

  Simco Restaurants

  COO

  Bob Partrite

  COO

  Simco Restaurants

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  Kristin Anderson

  Kristin Anderson is the President/CEO for Eric F. Anderson, Inc, her family’s 78 year old construction business based in San Leandro, CA. Kristin joined the company in 2008, following a career in mechanical engineering. Kristin and her mother, Leona, took over the business after the passing of her father in 2010. Since then, Kristin has been passionate about continuing the family’s legacy as the 3 rd generation and being a Women-Owned Business. Under her leadership, the company has grown into three divisions – Construction, Cabinetry and Service. Kristin is a recent Past President with the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is an active member of the Northern California Planning Committee for ICSC, and sits as the Marketing Committee Co-Chair with CREW East Bay. Kristin lives in Oakland, CA, with her 13-year old, Emery.

  Eric F. Anderson

  President & CEO

  Kristin Anderson

  President & CEO

  Eric F. Anderson

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  Keith Morris

  For over 20 years Keith Morris has focused on the architecture of food & beverage facilities, particularly the design of restaurants, cafes, bars and commissaries. As the head of Studio KDA’s Food & Beverage Studio, Keith leads a group of designers and technicians to provide highly branded, soulful, and operationally efficient spaces for food purveyors throughout Northern California. Working with his wife and design partner, Marites Abueg, Keith has helped chefs, operators and culinary innovators open well over 50 F&B establishments including award-winning Protégé of Palo Alto, Comal of Berkeley and Top Hatters Kitchen in San Leandro. Keith sits on the board of The Bread Project and holds a BA from the University of Cincinnati.

  Studio KDA

  Principal

  Keith Morris

  Principal

  Studio KDA

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  Jonah Trotz

  Jonah Trotz maintains a diverse and comprehensive real estate practice advising commercial landlords, real estate developers, cultural institutions, and individuals in a wide variety of sophisticated transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, financing, and property development. In addition, Jonah has an active practice negotiating and drafting construction and design contracts, which often provides another layer of value to his clients. With a pragmatic and results-oriented approach, Jonah is acutely focused on achieving his clients’ desired outcomes. By understanding his clients’ business goals and objectives, Jonah tailors his advice and strategies to address their specific needs. He strives to be a trusted advisor that clients can rely on for the highest quality legal counsel, empowering them to make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of real estate transactions. As a Berkeley native and lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Jonah possesses a deep understanding and appreciation for the region and its unique real estate market. He takes great pride in assisting the individuals and companies that make the Bay Area what it is. Jonah received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2015, where he was notes editor of the Michigan Journal of Environment and Administrative Law. He received a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2012. He is admitted to the State Bar of California.

  Farella Braun + Martel

  Senior Associate

  Moderator

  Jonah Trotz

  Senior Associate

  Farella Braun + Martel