At Local Pulse we believe in the supporting local, small businesses. We thrive off seeing the entrepreneurs flourish and succeed in their passions and dreams. We also know the challenges that come with starting a business, one of those being finding the perfect real estate space. Before touring one of Downtown Pensacola’s prime commercial spaces, The Collective, we sat down with Danny Zimmern from The Zimmern Team to find out what makes a good commercial space to begin with.
“I moved back to Pensacola in the mid 1980s after attending UF. I managed several different businesses with multiple locations which gave him knowledge of Perdido Key, Downtown Pensacola, and all the way to Navarre.
I was introduced to real estate by my mother, Corinne Zimmern, who sold residential real estate after my father passed away. To me, it always looked like it was fun and profitable. Almost immediately after having my daughter Hannah, I realized working 60-80 hours per week did not give me the time I needed, so I took my real estate exam and began practicing real estate.
Because of my business background, I knew I wanted to do commercial real estate, but as a new parent, I had to earn enough to survive until I could focus on strictly commercial. Luckily for me, my relationships allowed me to begin doing commercial real estate almost immediately. I was also blessed to be working with Jim Scoggins, a commercial broker with decades of experience. I was blessed to have several wonderful mentors.
After almost 30 years of real estate brokerage, I have learned the technicalities of the business, and there are many, but it has been my experience that yes, the real estate is important, but the people are more important. I believe learning what the client is looking for, what they like/don’t like, and understanding their goals for a real estate transaction is of utmost importance.
After getting that understanding, then it becomes time to dig in with specifications like zoning, size, traffic count, number of parking places, concurrency, floor plans, developmental use, budget, cost, and many more. These specifications are critical in putting the clients’ wants and needs in the perfect location.
In commercial real estate, there are so many different objectives; from industrial warehouses to small office spaces and every commercial use in between. I am blessed to have been the broker in over 25 restaurant locations, 5 Publix grocery stores, and greatly enjoy the work I do with multiple governmental agencies, representing the Escambia and Santa Rosa county school districts, Holley-Navarre Water System, and others. In the recent past, NWFL growth has also allowed me to focus on all types of Residential development, including apartments, townhouses, and subdivisions.
A good commercial space is one that meets what the client is looking for. Every client is different with a different set of needs. COVID changed the real estate market. Businesses allowed staff to work from home, which completely changed the office space dynamic in NWFL. Additionally, retail practices have become more diverse with the increased need for delivery of food and home products and services.
People began spending more on themselves with services expanding, things like facials, massages, counseling, specific health targeted treatments. Entrepreneurial providers have become very prolific and have a need to own their own business and control what they do. To do that, small suites of offices are being developed where multiple providers can practice and provide healthy and holistic solutions under one roof. The Collective is a prime example.
Located in Downtown Pensacola for easy access and convenient parking, the Collective offers entrepreneurial providers a way to own their own business, work their own schedule, and be surrounded by other providers who have the interest of building clientele and working in an environment of healthy living and lifestyles.
Three of the current tenants and Business Owners at The Collective
Sponsored by The Zimmern Team
Our Community Real Estate Voices are brought to you by The Zimmern Team. The Zimmern Team Powered by Keller Williams Realty Gulf Coast is a team of experienced, licensed real estate agents serving the residential and commercial real estate needs of the Gulf Coast.
