Brian Platock is first vice president with CB Richard Ellis and is developing the second phase of the Riverside Market Square shopping center.
BACKGROUND
Platock is from Jacksonville and attended the University of Florida, where he studied real estate. “I did appraisal work just out of college and worked for landlord leasing centers.” He has worked at CB Richard Ellis for 10 years.
HIGH PROFILE CLIENTS
Some of Platock’s clients include Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy. He worked with Banana Republic, opening stores in downtown Savannah. “They were already in the mall there with lackluster sales. We were able to convince them that the market was moving to the old section of town, and now they benefit from the tourist trade as well. It took a tremendous amount of time from start to finish, probably three and a half to four years. Sometimes you just have to have a belief in something. We helped the Gap open an additional market as well.” Platock also represents Target and its developers and did work on the Super Target on the Westside.
NEWEST PROJECT
Platock and his partner are expanding the Riverside Market Square shopping center on the corner of Riverside Avenue and Margaret Street. They will add 14,000 square feet of space across Oak Street from the original shopping center, which is anchored by Publix and also includes a Starbucks and a Papa John’s Pizza.Two restaurants already planned for Phase II are Al’s Pizza and Qdoba Mexican Grille. “We’re negotiating with several other people. We’re in for permits right now and we anticipate construction to start the first of the year.”
PARTNERS
Platock is partnering with Al Mansur on the Riverside Market Square project. Mansur owns the Al’s Pizza restaurants in Ponte Vedra Beach and Atlantic Beach and the San Pablo area. “Al was a client of mine and was looking for a location in the Riverside area. I was helping him out and we decided to go in for a joint venture when we found this opportunity.” Platock said Sembler Co. of St. Petersburg, the company that developed the first phase of the project, sold them the purchasing rights, so they bought the property. The two actually met because Platock frequently patronized Al’s Pizza.
HOW IT HAPPENED
“I have a background in real estate and I’m more of a detail person. Al will be able to focus on the restaurant. He has a great business sense and a real can do attitude. We’re not afraid to take risks.”
CHALLENGES
“Anytime you embark on a new project, no matter what it is, it’s more work than anticipated. But it has been very interesting.” Platock deals strictly in retail, a field with challenges “too numerous to mention. In this business you live from transaction to transaction and you try to fortify your business with repeat clients.”
BEST PART OF YOUR JOB
“I love the freedom of this job. Having two young kids, it’s great to be able to come and go as you please, as long as you’re producing. You can be entrepreneurial in this business. You can make as little or as much as you want, depending on the work you put in.”
FAMILY
Platock and his wife, Leslie, have two children, a daughter, 21-months-old, and a son, who is five-months-old.
SPORTSMAN
Platock spent a year and a half as a professional golfer. “I played a mini-tour and was a professional for a while, very briefly. It was a test of will.” Platock traveled throughout Florida, trying to qualify for the PGA Tour.
— by Bailey White