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How Atlanta’s Retail Real Estate Landscape Has Transformed Over 50 Years

Atlanta-based real estate investment and development firm Branch Properties is celebrating its 50th anniversary, honoring the company’s rich history and role in shaping Metro Atlanta’s real estate landscape. Since its founding, the company has played a large part in strengthening the quality of development, acquisition, leasing and property management services across the Southeast.

Branch is also announcing the transition of Jesse Shannon to president, and he will remain the firm’s chief investment officer. He will take over the role from Nick Telesca, who served as president of Branch for 25 years. Telesca will now serve as chairman at Branch and continue to oversee major business initiatives and decisions. 

Branch was founded in 1973 by J. Alexander Branch III with the goal of providing real estate investment and advisory offerings to high-net-worth foreign investors. He played a pivotal role in bringing capital to Atlanta through European investors in the 1970s and 1980s, which in part began the real estate boom that grew Atlanta into the city it is today. Since then, the firm has acquired, developed and managed over $5 billion of commercial real estate in markets across the Southeast. 

“Over the past 50 years and beginning with the leadership of Alex Branch, Branch Properties was instrumental in bringing foreign investment to the Southeast and changing the landscape of Atlanta’s retail market,” said Branch Partner and Vice Chairman Richard Lee. “From Disco Kroger to Peachtree Battle, it has been rewarding to see how our projects have transformed neighborhoods, impacting communities not only in our backyard of Metro Atlanta, but also in a number of growing areas across the Southeast. Our investors remain confident in our proven acquisition and development strategy and its ability to yield increasingly successful returns. We are thankful for their continued support throughout the years.” 

Over Branch’s history, it has acquired and developed approximately 160 shopping centers throughout the southeast including 60 in Metro Atlanta. During the last few years, Branch has shifted its strategy to focus primarily on development and currently owns and operates 28 grocery-anchored shopping centers in eight states. In Branch’s view, grocery-anchored retail has provided its investors with stable and durable cash flows and long-term capital appreciation. In 1992 the firm began its long-term relationship with Publix Super Markets, Inc. to expand their operations into the Southeast market. 

While honoring 50 years of real estate development and management success, Branch is also looking ahead to the company’s growth trajectory in the coming years. Currently, Branch has a number of projects under development across the Southeast, including the 87,000-square-foot Summerhill Station in the Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta; the 57,750-square-foot Wynnehaven Plaza in Santa Rosa County, Fla.; and the 76,764-square-foot Limestone Marketplace in Gainesville, Ga.

“It is remarkable to think of all of the people who have played a hand in shaping Branch into the company it is today, from our partners overseas to those who have worked on our team and gone on to seed their own companies,” said Branch Partner and Chairman Nick Telesca. “Branch’s evolution over the past half-century is a testament to our ability to adapt and innovate in an exciting and always evolving industry. We look forward to another 50 years.”

Branch also has several Publix-anchored developments that have recently opened or are opening soon across the Southeast, including Perimeter Marketplace in Dunwoody, Ga.; Hugh Howell Marketplace in Tucker, Ga.; Merganser Commons at Dogwood Estates in Milton, Fla.; The Market at Hays Farm in Huntsville, Ala.; and Moncks Corner Marketplace in Moncks Corner, S.C.

For more information on Branch Properties, click here.

Article courtesy of Metro Atlanta CEO, published April 14, 2023.