Ross Kaplan joined Newmark’s retail division in 2004 and currently serves as an executive managing director at the firm’s Manhattan headquarters. Mr. Kaplan focuses on tenant representation, both on a national and local level, as well as landlord representation, ground-up developments and existing office and residential properties. One of Newmark’s top five grossing retail brokers for the last five years, Mr. Kaplan has received its Associate Broker of the Year award twice, in 2005 and 2006.
Recent Accomplishments
Most notably on the landlord side, Mr. 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. Mr. Kaplan also represented Fosun in a 45,000-square-foot lease with Alamo Drafthouse. The deal, which will bring the upmarket multiplex chain to Manhattan in 2019, was REBNY’s Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year in 2018.
Mr. Kaplan has also undertaken several significant assignments on behalf of tenants. He represented Venchi, a gourmet Italian chocolate manufacturer with more than 85 locations internationally, in opening its first New York City location at 861 Broadway in Union Square. He will continue to assist the chocolate concept as it conducts a major nationwide expansion. In addition, he recently relocated Davide Cenci to 1015 Madison Avenue and exclusively represents Little Collins Café.
Select Clients
Landlords
Mr. Kaplan has represented and completed transactions with such top-tier organizations as Alchemy Properties, Angelo Gordon & Company, The Ascend Group, AvalonBay Communities Inc, The Carlyle Group, The Clarett Group, CIM Group, The Durst Organization, Goldman Sachs, Gotham Organization, Guardian Life Insurance, ING Clarion, Madison Capital Inc., The Moinian Group, Prudential Real Estate Investors, Solil Management, Solow Management Corporation, Tishman Speyer and Young Woo & Associates. In completing these assignments, he secured such noteworthy tenants as Bank of America, Bluemercury, Capital One, Chopt Creative Salad Company, CVS Pharmacy, Jamba Juice, Kumon North America, LensCrafters, Levi’s, Scottrade, Starbucks, Sweaty Betty, Sweetgreen, TD Bank, Wachovia, Wells Fargo and White House Black Market.
Mr. Kaplan has worked extensively with retail condominium sales, representing purchasers and sellers throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Tenants
Mr. Kaplan has successfully completed transactions on the tenant side with Aerosoles, Balducci’s, CVS Pharmacy, Gothic Cabinet Craft, JackRabbit Sports, Jacques Torres Chocolates, Malia Mills Swimwear, Nine West, Rena Lange, Salumeria Rosi, Steve Madden and The Vitamin Shoppe.
Currently, Mr. 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
Other career highlights of Mr. Kaplan include:
Leased more than 200,000 square feet for CVS Pharmacy across 15 locations
Secured the Alamo Drafthouse at 28 Liberty
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
Mr. 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
Mr. Kaplan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing/business management from the University of Maryland.