I can’t describe the level of calm I’m feeling right now.
It’s been too long since I set foot on the family farm in KY. Trading screen time for barn time realigns the focus.
Animals and Mother Nature are the best mentors.
If you’re trying to grow in retail real estate, get in the room.
Tonight was one of those nights where the ROI on showing up was 10x. Big thanks to Evie Gross (@Brixmor Property Group) and Ashley Casey (@PhillipsEdison & Company) for curating a killer panel and bringing the right people together. Appreciate the invite and the connections.
Panelists brought the heat:
PGA TOUR Superstore – Dylan R. Merriweather, MS
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Chris Drazba
Chicken Salad Chick – Mark Verges
Burlington Stores, Inc. – Robert Davis
Smart people doing real business.
AI is getting better. And people are craving real experiences even more because of it.
We’re overstimulated. Overmarketed. Drowning in content.
So what’s actually working?
→ Sauna and cold plunge with a friend
→ Alone time, away from your phone and laptop
→ Hitting Strong, sweating it out, locking in wellness goals
→ Building community around health and wellness
Less alcohol. Less noise.
More intention. More connection.
At Momentic, we’re creating spaces that bring people back to what matters.
Real places. Real people. Real impact.
Big win for the Momentic Studios team - we just opened our first SweatHouz (SWTHZ) location in Los Angeles at the iconic 2ND & PCH!
Address: 6480 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 152, Long Beach, CA 90803
Unreal foot traffic. Prime visibility. Strategic positioning for a brand that’s redefining wellness through cold plunge, sauna, red light, and contrast therapy.
This is exactly the type of retail site that we are seeking: easy access, free parking, daytime population, strong co-tenancy, and high-income demographics.
First-time visit: $35.
Book here: https://t.co/rGDIzd0Jzo
More to come.
Down to three screens when I travel.
Feels like working with one hand tied behind my back.
In all seriousness, this is the best travel setup I’ve ever had.
16GB RAM, 3 screens, Bluetooth mouse, under 30 seconds to set up, and it all fits in a small backpack.
Coffee shops, airports, garages - locking in anywhere.
After years of tweaking, I finally built the perfect setup.
- 5 monitors with seamless flow
- 2 operating systems, 24GB RAM
- 1 iPad
- High-speed internet with zero lag
- 1 balance board
- 2 standing desks
Every morning I’m ready to lock in.
This system makes me faster, sharper, and way more productive.
What’s your setup look like, and was it worth the investment?
I really enjoy digging into CRE history, and Atlantic Station is one of the most interesting projects I’ve studied.
It was Atlanta’s largest steel mill — 138 acres of rust, oil, and dirt sitting between Midtown and the Westside. When it shut down in the 1990s, the site was completely dead.
No housing. No retail. No foot traffic. Just chain-link fences and contaminated ground. Most saw a liability. A few saw potential.
Jacoby Development partnered with AIG, cleaned it up through an EPA brownfield program, and pushed a full mixed-use plan — residential, office, retail.
It was one of the first large-scale urban redevelopments in the Southeast—well ahead of its time.
Today, it’s home to Microsoft, national retailers, apartments, hotels, restaurants, and steady foot traffic.
Hines and Morgan Stanley own it now, and they’ve invested heavily in repositioning — new tenants, events, better public space, and a stronger identity, making it a walkable, billion dollar asset.
In 2019, the City of Chamblee, GA made a bold decision to fight bad zoning. Now, the city’s Downtown Overlay District is setting the stage for a walkable, mixed-use urban core — think Brookhaven-level growth, with even more upside.
Developers and investors are moving fast. MARTA transit access, new public/private City Center developments, and a flood of retail and residential projects are turning Chamblee into one of Atlanta’s hottest markets. Property values are climbing, new businesses are signing leases, and the momentum is undeniable.
Brookhaven set the blueprint. Chamblee is running with it — and might just take it to the next level. Thoughts?
It’s 2027. AI is doubling in intelligence every six months.
The top retailers? They’re running circles around you. Their AI already knows which leases are expiring before they hit the market. They’re pitching landlords early, locking in prime locations at the best rates, and setting up shop while everyone else is still playing catch-up.
They don’t just rely on listings and site tours - their AI already ran 10,000 simulations and found the perfect sites years ago. They’re expanding faster, cutting better deals, and leaving everyone else in the dust.
Retail success will follow those who move first and quickest.