Retail Real Estate Veteran Bernie Labowitz Joins Gregory Fisher & Present Value Properties, Inc. as Sr. VP

ORANGE, CALIF. – Gregory A. Fisher of Present Value Properties, Inc., a full service retail real estate brokerage, development and consulting firm headquartered in Orange, Calif., announced today that Bernie Labowitz, a 38-year retail real estate veteran and former Vice President of Leasing for World Premier Investments in Santa Ana, Calif., has joined Present Value Properties, Inc. as Senior Vice President.

Labowitz will be responsible for obtaining additional clients for tenant representation, landlord leasing and consulting assignments as well as pursuing development opportunities for the company. Present Value Properties currently represents a variety of chain retailers throughout the Western United States including El Pollo Loco, Farmer Boys, Hallmark, Sally Beauty, Cosmo Prof, Sport Clips, Kinder Care, and Payless ShoeSource in San Diego County. The company also has 250,000 square feet of retail projects in various stages of development in Nevada and Utah.

While at World Premier Investments for nearly nine years, Labowitz was responsible for the leasing of more than one million square feet of large power centers and supermarket/drug anchored shopping centers. Prior to joining World Premier, Labowitz spent more than 20 years working for a variety of retailers and was responsible for many of those retailers' new store rollout programs. Labowitz served as Vice President of Real Estate for Clothestime, Susie’s Deals, Anna’s Linens and $5 Clothing Stores; Director of Real Estate for CVS/pharmacy, Tilly’s and Wherehouse Entertainment; Real Estate Manager for Lucky Stores; as well as Vice President of W.R. Grace Development, a shopping center development company.

Additionally, Labowitz is a former Western Region Retail Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is a recipient of the prestigious ICSC Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award, which is the shopping center industry’s highest award for volunteerism. He was also inducted into the Association of Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Hall of Fame.

“Bernie Labowitz is truly a shopping center industry icon,” said Fisher, President and CEO of Present Value Properties. “Not only does everyone in the industry know Bernie but he is also one of the kindest and most knowledgeable retail professionals I have ever met. His retail real estate development and leasing background combined with his extensive retailer experience provides our clients and Present Value Properties with such an unprecedented depth and breadth of experience and results.”

"I am thrilled to work with Greg Fisher and the excellent team he has built at Present Value Properties," said Labowitz. "Greg Fisher has an outstanding reputation within the retail development, brokerage and retailer communities. We have been friends since 1985 and worked together during the late ‘90s at Wherehouse Entertainment.”

Labowitz will be pursuing retail opportunities in the California, Nevada and Utah markets including build-to-suits, ground-up shopping center development and acquisition of existing properties with value-add and/or parcelization opportunities. According to Fisher, Present Value Properties plans to spend more than $50 million per year for the acquisition and development of retail projects in the next two to five years. Since 2002, Fisher has developed eight shopping centers in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington totaling over 500,000 square feet.

“With Bernie Labowitz focused on expanding our retailer roster and development opportunities, Present Value Properties can aggressively pursue our goal of acquiring additional projects totaling more than one million square feet over the next three to five years,” Fisher noted. Labowitz will be based out of the company’s Orange office.

Founded in 1998 by Gregory A. Fisher, Present Value Properties, Inc. is a full service real estate firm providing retailer and landlord representation, development and entitlement services, consulting and legal assistance. Headquartered in Orange, Calif., Present Value Properties exclusively represents a variety of chain retailers throughout Southern California including El Pollo Loco, Farmer Boys, Hallmark, Sally Beauty, Cosmo Prof, Sport Clips, Kinder Care, and Payless ShoeSource in San Diego County. Currently, Present Value Properties has 250,000 square feet of retail in various stages of planning and development in Nevada and Utah. For more information, call 714.464.3000.

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