Ross Kaplan joined Newmark’s retail division in 2004 and currently serves as an Executive Managing Director at the firm’s Manhattan headquarters. Kaplan focuses on tenant representation, both on a national and local level, as well as landlord representation, which includes ground-up developments, existing office and residential properties. One of Newmark’s top five grossing retail brokers for the last five years, Kaplan has received the firm’s Associate Broker of the Year award twice, in 2005 and 2006.
Recent Accomplishments
Most notably on the landlord side, Kaplan currently represents Fosun International Limited at 28 Liberty (formerly One Chase Manhattan Plaza), where ownership is in the process of converting 200,000 square feet of its 2 million-square-foot office property into four levels of retail. He recently signed a deal with Legends Hospitality to operate a 35,000-square-foot food hall on the premises. Kaplan also represented Fosun in a 45,000-square-foot lease with Alamo Drafthouse. The transaction, which brought the upmarket multiplex chain to Manhattan in 2019, was REBNY’s Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year in 2018.
Kaplan has undertaken several significant assignments on behalf of tenants. He represents Venchi, a gourmet Italian chocolate manufacturer with more than 95 locations internationally, in opening its first New York City location at 861 Broadway in Union Square as well as locations at 233 Bleecker Street, 1796 Broadway, 198 Columbus Avenue, 1115 Lexington Avenue, 1178 Broadway, The Mall at Short Hills and Tysons Corner Center. He continues to assist Venchi as it conducts a major nationwide expansion. He also represents CVS Pharmacy and has secured more than 30 locations for the company. He recently completed a transaction for Dolce Vita at 489 Broadway in Soho. In addition, he recently relocated Davide Cenci to 1015 Madison Avenue and exclusively represents Little Collins Café.
Kaplan recently represented Brooklyn Prospect Charter School at 80 Willoughby Street in Brooklyn in securing a 70,000-square-foot campus and a 50,000-square-foot location at 341 39th Street, also in Brooklyn.
Select Clients
Landlords:
Kaplan has represented and completed transactions with such top-tier organizations as Alchemy Properties, Angelo Gordon & Company, The Ascend Group, AvalonBay Communities Inc, Brookfield Properties, The Carlyle Group, The Clarett Group, CIM Group, The Durst Organization, Extell Development, Fosun International Limited, GFP Real Estate, Goldman Sachs, Gotham Organization, Guardian Life Insurance, ING Clarion, Madison Capital Inc., The Moinian Group, Naftali Group, PGIM Real Estate, Solil Management, Solow Management Corporation, Tishman Speyer and Young Woo & Associates. In completing these assignments, he secured such noteworthy tenants as Tumi, Bank of America, Steve Madden, Bluemercury, One Medical, Capital One, Raising Cane’s, Chopt Creative Salad Company, CVS Pharmacy, LensCrafters, Levi’s, Scottrade, Starbucks, Sweaty Betty, Sweetgreen, TD Bank and Wells Fargo.
Kaplan has worked extensively with retail condominium sales, representing purchasers and sellers throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Tenants:
Kaplan has successfully completed transactions on the tenant side with Venchi, Dolce Vita, David Cenci, Aerosoles, Balducci’s, CVS Pharmacy, Jacques Torres Chocolates, Malia Mills Swimwear, Nine West, Rena Lange, Salumeria Rosi, Steve Madden and The Vitamin Shoppe.
Currently, Kaplan is advising Smallbone of Devizes. He is also responsible for Plum Market’s expansion into New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston, which requires 17,000 to 30,000 square feet.
Other Noteworthy Transactions
- Leased more than 200,000 square feet for CVS Pharmacy across 20 locations
- Secured the Alamo Drafthouse’s Downtown Manhattan location at 28 Liberty Street
- Completed leasing of 26,000 square feet at 200 West End Avenue
- Represented The Klein Group in the purchase of the 26,000-square-foot retail condominium at 200 West End Avenue
- Secured Rena Lange’s flagship at 791 Madison Avenue
- Secured Balducci’s Gourmet Café at Hearst’s corporate headquarters
Professional Affiliations
Kaplan is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and its Retail Committee, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York (YMWREA) and the Real Estate New Leadership Cabinet of Israel Bonds. He also serves on Newmark’s Young Leadership Counsel as a mentor to junior brokers.
Education
Kaplan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Business Management from the University of Maryland.