David Lukes on real estate investment
From Episode 455: Curbline Properties CEO David Lukes on Redefining Convenience Real Estate · · New York Stock Exchange
“Institutions have historically focused on large format grocery-anchored retail because they had reliable data like tenant sales, but the advent of geolocation data from cell phones since 2018-2019 has enabled institutions like us to confidently invest in unanchored convenience properties with robust customer traffic data.”
On , David Lukes, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at SITE CENTERS CORP, spoke about real estate investment during Episode 455: Curbline Properties CEO David Lukes on Redefining Convenience Real Estate on New York Stock Exchange.
About David Lukes
David Lukes, president and CEO of SITE Centers, oversaw the spin-off of Curbline Properties in October 2024, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CURB. Lukes described Curbline as the first publicly traded REIT solely dedicated to convenience properties, with no debt and significant cash on hand. He stated that the company focuses on small, convenience-oriented retail assets and that the strategy is driven by the use of geolocation data from cell phones, which he said has enabled institutions to confidently invest in unanchored convenience properties. Lukes noted that convenience properties thrive because customers spend little time on site, and he characterized the portfolio as balancing national credit tenants with local tenants. Lukes described the retail market as "in a euphoric moment" with high tenant demand and limited space. He said SITE Centers had transacted a significant volume of property sales and acquisitions to fund the spin-off, calling it the most transaction activity he had seen in retail in a long time. Lukes emphasized a strategy of buying smaller properties with smaller tenants, arguing that this approach requires less landlord capital for growth. He also cited the work-from-home trend as a long-term driver for suburban convenience retail, and noted that the company uses cell phone data for both leasing and acquisition decisions.