PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Retail Right Hand
       For Landlord, Merchant, Restaurateur, Downtowns, Transportation Places,
Universities, Hotels

Retail Intuitive
Breakthrough Leasing, Merchandising, Design, Identity
Think Global, Act Local

Master Planning to Execution
On Budget, On Time

Trusted Outsider
       Managing unspoken agendas and expectations while team building, leading,
and finishing strong

 

Retail Resource Tool Kit


Strategic Planning, Site Selection, Lease Negotiations

On behalf of Landlord or Merchant


Retail Project Development Programs

Focusing on client objectives for both income and image, a program may include merchant mix, leasing, financial proforma, and space planning.  Competitive analysis of existing conditions and specific definition of client goals creates the platform for the work.  Execution of plan with   
architectural, construction and administrative support according to budget and schedule through opening includes marketing and operational guidelines as needed.


Creative Leasing and Problem Solving

Specializing in signature retail places requiring creative leasing with sound financial parameters.  The merchandising of vacant space for a shopping location’s grand opening, generating income, and enhancing image is a particular specialty while always protecting the investment of the developer and maximizing the marketing efforts to the customer

Special Events/Corporate Team Building Corporate special events, VIP and customer parties, corporate gifts, team strategy, and off-site meeting planning


Work
(Click on the underlined client names for more info)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

This assignment is to create a successful retail program in the Kendall Square District, home to Microsoft, Biogen and a crossroads for MIT campus life.  Recognizing an absence of residential, this special urban campus within the city of Cambridge must weave together a plan that creates a vital and authentic city place

IKEA
Russia
Having embarked on a program to be Landlord and Anchor Tenant in Russia, IKEA has opened 12 shopping centers, with two more programmed to open before 2011.  This consulting assignment is the Merchandising of the Grand Opening marrying the IKEA Team to the GO Team to create a great first impression, and first year in sales.

LEGACY PLACE
Dedham, MA
Merchandised the grand opening with W/S Development; included visual merchandising, swing shops leasing, and retail coaching for local specialty merchants in time for an
August 2009 opening

THE BRAVERN
Bellevue, WA
The retail assignment included coordinating the merchants for a 9/12/09 opening and working side by side the local team with an A+ merchant mix including Neiman Marcus, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, and Anthropologie.


LEGAL SEA FOODS
Boston, MA
 Working with the C.E.O., Roger Berkowitz, on special projects and new locations on a
selective
basis

MEADOWLANDS XANADU
East Rutherford, NJ
Entertainment experiences and real time shopping come together in this project. Leasing key locations, merchandising the Grand Opening and special projects are
the assignments.  (on hold)

SAKI
Provincetown, MA
Coaching the employees and owner of this stylish Asian fusion restaurant and saki bar included: design, staffing, critical path, budgeting, advertising and signage.  The successful launch has stimulated an expansion into a nightclub opening May 2010.

THE PASEO AT SANTA FE
Santa Fe, NM
A development assignment that focuses on creatively leasing and merchandising an address into a landmark.  Being a community prized for its character, customers, residents, and visitors, this seamless extension of the historic Plaza to Canyon Road’s art gallery district is the
challenge.  (on hold)

TRANS NATIONAL PLACE
Boston, MA
The retail program for Boston’s tallest landmark office building.  A design inspired by Renzo Piano, located at the crossroads of the business and shopping districts, and an emerging residential neighborhood. The retail mix for this regal tower positions this address as a downtown destination for the socially conscious owner/developer, fulfilling and exceeding city requirements and requests.  (on hold)

al raha beach
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Creating a special events strategy for this new resort/residential community to complement existing events (car racing, air shows, and holidays specific to the region) was this assignment for Communications Arts. “Signature, Simple and Engaging Events” were invented to create loyalty to the community for residents, to bring visitors, and to inspire destination-driven experiences. 

REMAIN NANTUCKET
Nantucket, MA
Preserving and polishing an authentic Main Street and downtown for locals and visitors, while other market forces fuel a high-end seasonal resort attitude.  The assignment entailed working with a local landmark bookstore on hours of operation, parking, and merchandise mix.  The quietly high-profile client made this work unique and personal.

NORTHPOINT
 Cambridge, MA
Working with Jones Lang LaSalle to create a retail plan for a new neighborhood on 44 acres over ten years. Resting on the edge of Boston, it includes the “front door” properties at the new Lechmere T station and a “Main Street” of needs: shopping, dining, and service uses in an environmentally conscious and diverse community.  (on hold)

 

RETAIL RESOURCE CLIENT ROSTER
DEVELOPERS

AMERICAN EGYPTIAN COMPANY, CAIRO, EGYPT
A.T. & T., NEW YORK
BANKCITY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
BEACON COMPANIES
                CENTER PLAZA

                GUEST QUARTERS HOTLES
                LE MERIDIEN HOTEL
                ROWES WHARF
                SOUTH STATION
                75 STATE STREET
BEACON CAPITAL
                CHANNEL CENTER CONDOMINIUMS
CENTERMARK PROPERTIES
                ANNAPOLIS MALL
                THE PLAZA AT WEST COVINA
CA1 SERVICES
                NEWARK AIRPORT
                NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
                OAKLAND AIRPORT
DISNEY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
                THE BOARDWALK
                THE VILLAGE MARKETPLACE
THE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
                ALOHA TOWER MARKETPLACE, HONOLULU
                BARCELONA, SPAIN
                VICTORIA & ALFRED WATERFRONT, CAPETOWN,
                SOUTH  AFRICA
                WATERSIDE, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA   
FIELDS POINT
                MASHPEE COMMONS
GABLES URBAN PARTNERS
                WEST AVE
THE HAPSMITH COMPANY
                SUPERMALL OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST
HARVARD REAL ESTATE
                HOLYOKE CENTER, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
THE HUNT COMPANIES
                THE PASEO AT SANTA FE
THE MILLS
                ARIZONA MILLS
                ARUNDEL MILLS
                CINCINNATI MILLS
                COLORADO MILLS                             
                CONCORD MILLS
                DISCOVER MILLS
                GRAPEVINE MILLS
                KATY MILLS
                MADRID XANADU       
                MANUFACTURERS @ THE MILLS
                OPRY MILLS
                ONTARIO MILLS  
                PITTSBURGH MILLS                           
                SAWGRASS MILLS
                                PHASE TWO EXPANSION
                                THE OASIS
                                MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS
                                THE COLONNADE 
                ST. LOUIS MILLS
                THE BLOCK AT ORANGE                   
                VAUGHAN MILLS
                ANNUAL MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
MISSION CENTRE, TEMPE, ARIZONA
OLYMPIA & YORK
                WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
THE PYRAMID COMPANIES
                CAROUSEL CENTER
                SILVER CITY GALLERIA
REMAIN NANTUCKET
ROCKEFELLER CENTER
THE ROUSE COMPANY
                ARIZONA CENTER, PHOENIX  
                BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE, MIAMI
                FANEUIL HALL MARKETPLACE, BOSTON
                HARBORPLACE, BALTIMORE
                PIONEER PLACE, PORTLAND, OREGON
                SANTA MONICA PLACE, SANTA MONICA, CA
                VILLAGE OF CROSS KEYS, BALTIMORE
                WESTLAKE CENTER, SEATTLE
THE NEW BOSTON GARDEN CORPORATION
THE IRVINE SPECTRUM CENTER
SPORTSERVICE
STROUSE GREENBERG & COMPANY
UNION MARKET ASSOCIATES
WESTFIELD
                ANNAPOLIS MALL
                TOPANGA
W/S DEVELOPMENT
               
LEGACY PLACE

RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS

ARIZONA GIFTS: Phoenix Airport retail
B BRAITHWAITE: start up high end baby boutique
CORPORATE FOOD SERVICES: corporate dining
DESTINATION BOSTON: imprinted sportswear
FLASH FRUIT: juice and popsicle cart
FRILLZ: hand painted clothing
HAVE A HEART: Heart themed gifts and apparel
HUDSON RIVER CLUB: riverside restaurant and retail at the World Financial Center
LEGAL SEA FOODS, INC.: restaurant collection
LOCAL CHARM: strategic growth for entrepreneur’s artisan jewelry stores
LUCY'S CANVAS: Creative canvas bags
NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY: retail concept
MASSACHUSETTS CENTER FOR LEGAL EDUCATION: book shop concept,
buying plan and execution
OVATIONS: gift basket retailer
PULSE SPORT: active sportswear
REBECCA’S ON CHARLES STREET:  restaurant
SAKI: Asian-fusion restaurant and saki bar
SCENIC HUDSON: regional retail organization
THE BEST OF BOSTON: City goods and foodstuffs
WENDY WHEELER: woman’s ready to wear

MUSEUMS, DOWNTOWNS, AND MAIN STREET PROGRAMS

COALITION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/“DOWNCITY”: 
Retail development for Arts and Entertainment district for Providence, Rhode Island
COLUMBUS, INDIANA WITH THE ROUSE COMPANY:
Re-merchandising main street and existing retail space
THE M’ARK PROJECT MARGARETTVILLE, NY:
Merchandising for a farmers’ market
NEWARK DOWNTOWN
PORT DISCOVERY:
Baltimore Children’s Museum
PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF WEST VIRGINIA:
State of West Virginia


ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS

COMMUNICATION ARTS: Dubai Special Events strategy
D’AGOSTINO, IZZO, QUIRK ARCHITECTS:  Disney World Expansion
ESKEW, FILSON ARCHITECTS:  Underwater World Retail Shop
PRELLWITZ AND CHILINSKI ASSOCIATES:  Boston Garden renovation

 

PAST POSITIONS


VICE PRESIDENT, THE ROUSE COMPANY 1979-1987
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL LEASING SERVICES
Leasing, merchandising, design and merchant development, corporate direction for temporary leasing, Entrepreneurs Marketplace Program (carts, swing shops, temporary storefronts, kiosks) after management, operations, accounts receivable, and leasing at Faneuil Hall Marketplace for three years.

GRAND OPENINGS MERCHANDISE DIRECTOR,
Creating and implementing programs to open all leased stores and to temporarily lease all vacancies. Leasing division liaison to marketing and design divisions, and new business with reputation retailers

Bayside Marketplace (Miami, FL)
Connecticut Post (Milford, CT)
Jacksonville Landing (Jacksonville, FL)
National Place (Washington, DC)
Pioneer Place (Portland, OR)
Riverwalk (New Orleans, LA)
St. Louis Union Station (St. Louis, MI)
South Street Seaport (New York, NY)

Tabor Center (Denver, CO)
The Citadel (Boulder, CO)
Underground Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
Westlake Center (Seattle, WA)

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Yerba Buena Gardens (San Francisco, CA)
Democratic Convention, 1988 (Atlanta, GA)
Marshall Fields (Chicago, IL)

RETAIL EXPERIENCE

MACY’S NEW YORK
Buyer for 16 stores in Northeast, all home accessories catalogues, special in-store events, and boutiques for Contemporary Gifts and Tabletop, Americana, The Dickens Shop, Flowers, Fresh and Faux, and Not For Children Only

BLOOMINGDALE’S
Boston store Department Manager, towels and table linens, china and silver, house wares, decorative home accessories.  Orchestrated first Bloomingdale’s bridal show with vendor participation

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Ready to wear trainee in Young Circle sportswear area

 

EDUCATION

Apple One to One
Construction Contract Change Orders
Private Spanish Tutoring
Italian Courses, Italiaidea (Rome, Italy)
Harvard College, Creative Writing
University of Rhode Island, Bachelor of Science

 

ORGANIZATIONS

American Institute of Architects
International Council of Shopping Centers
Urban Land Institute

 

 

 
 
 
Copyright 2010 Deborah Byrnes