Joanne Podell, Cushman & Wakefield, Executive Vice President
By Mewingobserver December 10, 2012 6:09 pm
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Joanne Podell’s experience as the former owner of furniture chain Brazil Contempo proved valuable when she broke into the real estate industry 15 years ago—and not only when she, fittingly, placed Ethan Allen into its 1010 Third Avenue flagship.
“I knew what it meant to choose a location based on who your customer was, and I knew how to negotiate a lease,” said Ms. Podell.
Ms. Podell went on to execute some of Manhattan’s most prestigious retail assignments, like the rollout of Ann Taylor’s Loft concept, and she counts Nine West, Kay Jewelers, Benetton, Anne Klein, Guess and Nike among her clients.
She’s also represented landlords Starwood Capital Group, Hartz Mountain and the Moinian Group. “I really think that by representing both [landlords and tenants] I have a great overview of the market,” she said. Her recent deals have resulted in Kay Jewelers’ first Manhattan store at 136 West 34th Street, a flagship for Nine West at 1258 Avenue of the Americas and Anne Klein’s first New York flagship at 655 Madison Avenue.
Meanwhile, she was honored as Cushman & Wakefield’s 2006 Leading Brokerage Professional for the Americas, has received the Real Estate Board of New York’s Retail Deal of the Year award twice and was named one of Real Estate New York’s Commercial Broker All-Stars in 2004, among other honors, and she is currently the chair of the REBNY Retail Stores Committee. She was recently selected to exclusively market W&H Property’s 193,000-square-foot retail space at 112 West 34th Street.
“It’s the most exciting landlord assignment of my career, without a doubt,” said Ms. Podell. “I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.” —Al Barbarino
