Andrew Connolly is a Director in the firm’s New York office. Andrew has over 15 years of commercial real estate experience working with property owners, developers and regional and national retailers. A native New Yorker, he has an intimate knowledge of New York’s Metro Area and the retail industry. He also has an astute understanding of national retail business development and brand expansion strategy. Andrew joined Newmark Knight Frank in 2019, when parent company Newmark Group, Inc. acquired RKF. He began his career with RKF in 2012.
Prior to joining Newmark he was a Senior Director at RKF and Managing Director in the retail group at Grubb & Ellis Real Estate. Andrew is the master broker throughout the majority of the united states for the apparel brand 2nd Street USA adding 26 new stores in eight states in the past five years, as well as creating and implementing the strategic roll-out for Harbor Freight Tools’ New Jersey expansion. Additionally, he brought several European tenants into the market for their first locations as well as implemented their U.S. expansions. Andrew worked with an impressive list of tenants, including, Six Point Brewery, Verizon Wireless, PNC National Bank, Camper Shoes, Steve Madden, Reformation, OVO, Rituals, Rumble Boxing, Tacombi, Hoka, FIKA Espresso, Claire’s Jewelry, TeaGschwendner, Paulaner Brauhaus, JoS. A. Bank, and JPMorgan Chase. Likewise, Andrew has represented many landlords, including SJP Properties, Sherwood Equities, Premier Equities, Hilco, KABR, Kushner, Heller Realty, Worldwide Holdings, Palmer Square, Young Woo, Wharton Properties, Kenmore Associates and Stagshead Reality.
Previously, Andrew worked as an Associate at GVA Williams Real Estate. There he served as the retail account manager for Verizon Wireless in Long Island and the boroughs and ran disposition assignments for Genesco Brands. Andrew began his real estate career as Associate General Manager for the Shelter Group Restaurant’s Rosa Mexicano where he worked as an internal resource during the restaurant’s North American expansion initiative.
Andrew also brings marketing knowledge to his clients, having spent three years as Marketing Coordinator for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in the Ad/Sales/Marketing department working on brand building and product marketing. He also has two years of construction and development experience, having served as a partner with the Seaworthy Masonry Company of Brooklyn, NY.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Licensed real estate salesperson, states of New York and New Jersey
Education
Connolly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from New York University.