Newmark Retail is pleased to announce the promotions of six professionals in its New York City office: Ross Kaplan, Benjamin S. Birnbaum, Trever Gallina, Kate Cohen, Hymie M. Dweck and Kenji Ota.
Executive Vice President Jeffrey D. Roseman remarked, “Newmark Retail has had some of its best few years, and we are proud to have been involved in many of New York’s highest profile retail deals and successful rollouts. I am thrilled for these individuals who have worked tirelessly to make Newmark Retail the best in class in NYC.”
Ross Kaplan has been promoted to Senior Managing Director from the managing director position.
Most notably on behalf of landlords, Kaplan has represented and completed transactions with top tier organizations involving noteworthy tenants such as Lenscrafters, Bank of America, Wachovia, Payless Shoes, TD Bank, Ritz Camera & Image, Levi’s, White House Black Market, Scottrade, Kumon North America, CVS Pharmacy and Jamba Juice.
Kaplan has also successfully completed transactions on the tenant side with CVS Pharmacy, Balducci’s, Nine West, Steve Madden, The Vitamin Shoppe, Jacques Torres Chocolates, Aerosoles, JackRabbit Sports, Salumeria Rosi, Malia Mills Swimwear, and Gothic Cabinet Craft.
Most recently, Kaplan represented The Klein Group in its purchase of a 26,000-square-foot retail condominium at 200 West End Avenue, which he also fully leased.
Kaplan is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York (YMWREA) and is a member of the Real Estate New Leadership Cabinet of Israel Bonds. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Business Management.
Benjamin S. Birnbaum has been promoted to Managing Director from the director position.
Since joining the firm in 2007, Birnbaum has completed more than 70 transactions on behalf of the nation’s most prestigious landlords and has distinguished himself as an expert in implementing and executing rollout strategies as a member of Executive Vice President Jeffrey Roseman’s team.
Birnbaum currently represents The Empire Hotel Group, Brause Realty Corp., SL Green Realty Corp., and Walter & Samuels, Inc.
As exclusive representative for Pret A Manger, Birnbaum has completed a 20-store New York City roll-out to date. He also represents Potbelly Sandwich, Crumbs Bakeshop, Citibank, Five Point Partners, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
Birnbaum is a member of ICSC and REBNY. He graduated from Union College with a major in Psychology and a minor in European History. He studied abroad at the Central European University.
Trever Gallina has been promoted to Director from the associate director position.
Gallina is best known for his expertise in landlord and tenant representation, new construction, leasing and market analysis. He plays an integral role in retail expansion on a national level, leasing in luxury product destinations and New York-based landlord representation.
Gallina currently represents the Paris-based luxury brand Façonnable in developing strategies for repositioning the brand in New York City. Most recently, he secured the flagship store for the women’s luxury brand Barbara Bui on Rodeo Drive, the SoHo flagship for James Perse, planned and implemented the U.S. retail strategy for the English brand Fred Perry, completed leases for Madison Avenue flagships for Montreal-based brand M0851 and the women’s apparel brand Milly. As the representative of the apparel brand Haute Hippie for its requirements nationwide, Gallina recently secured its SoHo and Madison Avenue stores. Since 2009, he has represented CVS Pharmacy in eight transactions in New York City, totaling over $200 million in value.
Kate Cohen, Hymie M. Dweck and Kenji Ota have been promoted to Associate Director from the associate position.
Kate Cohen’s expertise is in landlord representation and tenant consulting throughout the New York metropolitan area. She has represented several Manhattan landlords including Friedland Properties, Philips International, Harlington Realty, George Comfort & Sons, and Solil Management. Recent transactions on behalf of tenants include a deal for more than 11,000 square feet in downtown Brooklyn with Sugar and Plumm, and American BBQ and Beer Co., as well as Desigual’s 7,000-square-foot-flagship in Soho at 594 Broadway.
Cohen, a licensed real estate salesperson and a member of REBNY, graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with a degree in finance/real estate.
Hymie M. Dweck focuses on the representation of tenants and landlords in and around the NYC boroughs, also specializing in retail rollouts within these areas with an emphasis on leading retailers in the quick service restaurant category such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Five Guys Burgers, Sarku Japan, and Potbelly Sandwich Works among others. Recent transactions were completed with influential owners in his areas of expertise such as Greater Jamaica Development Corp, Muss Development, The Mattone Group, and Solil Management.
Dweck is a licensed real estate sales person and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Business & Leadership in Organizations.
Kenji Ota recently completed over 40,000 square feet in retail leasing in high profile trade areas such as Union Square, Times Square, the 34th Street shopping corridor, Theatre District, Downtown Brooklyn and Midtown.
Ota exclusively represents tenants City Sports, Obika Mozzarella Bar, Steak ‘n Shake, Buddha Bar, American BBQ and Beer, E & E Grill House, Nanoosh, Baja Fresh, and Wendy’s corporate in the New York Metropolitan area. He also represents Under Armour in the Chicago and New York markets. Ota has marketed and/or completed transactions with many prominent property owners such as: LH Charney and Associates, Solil Management, Elk Investors and Muss Development.
Ota, a member of ICSC and REBNY, graduated from Lehigh University with a major in Behavioral Neuroscience. He also has his master’s and doctorate in Psychology.
About Newmark
Newmark is one of the largest real estate service firms in the world. Headquartered in New York, Newmark and London-based partner Knight Frank together operate from more than 240 offices in established and emerging property markets on five continents. With a combined staff of more than 7,000 and revenues last year exceeding $993 million, this major force in real estate is meeting the local and global needs of tenants, owners, investors and developers worldwide. For further information, visit www.newmarkkf.com.
Newmark is a part of BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:BGCP), a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets. For further information, visit www.bgcpartners.com.