The enigma of the cult-creators

In-N-Out. H&M. Trader Joe’s. H-E-B. White Castle.

Each of these companies has a loyal following in Dallas, almost cult-like, even though each has yet to open a store here.

Their secret to preemptive success is not just a great product (though some neighbors might swear by the tastiness of a Double-Double or the ability to don this season’s faux fur on a budget). The other quality they share is that each is a familyowned private company that keeps its practices close to its vest.

Only 5 minutes from Baylor Hospital.

Home -- whether you enjoy a temporary stay or choose to make your home with Fowler, the supportive community and continuum of care offered on our beautiful campus will give you and your loved ones peace of mind.

Fowler’s state-ofthe-art therapy suite includes a mock kitchen, bath and bedroom. Also, its rehabilitative outdoor garden and multiterrain walkways contributes a unique therapy environment while helping residents regain skills that help them return to a better quality of life.

“Family-owned companies don’t share a lot of information, and that’s part of the reason they get that cult following — not just the food or the product, but that there’s not a lot of information out there,” David Shelton says.

The fact that “the world is getting smaller every day” helps these companies, too, Robert Young says. Travel within the United States is accessible, and as more Dallasites dine at an In-NOut on the West Coast or shop at H&M on the East Coast, more customers are created. Dallas also is home to a number of coastal emigrants, and these new residents who miss their homelands may be these companies’ best advertisers.

It’s not that these companies are ignoring Dallas. Commerical real estate experts agree that if they haven’t yet made plans to move here, they will eventually, if for no other reason than to make more money in one of the country’s retail hubs.

www.fowlerhomes.org

However, “with the precious nature of capital and money, they’re all very careful about expansions — all of them,” Young says. “No one with any major concept would come to town and go into any neighborhood or key trade area unless they felt very comfortable that they can have an efficient distribution of what they do.”

Meet The Experts

MIKE GEISLER, VENTURE COMMERCIAL FOUNDING PARTNER and in order to open store, In-N-Out needs tion center. (The company lease space west of Dallas it finds a permanent home.) company would also need bution center because come to Dallas and open or even just a couple. but that’s another plus by the way.

Brokerage and property management company Venture Commercial lists roughly 17 million square feet of shopping centers and represents more than 120 retailers and restaurants. It has a presence from Oak Lawn and Uptown to Burleson and Rockwall, and has leased the Plaza at Preston Center for almost 20 years.

In-N-Out, for example, on “a fry that tastes burger that tastes a certain arnold says. “you’ve gotta same product whether Vegas.” The company has locations in Dallas — one Caruth Haven, another junction of 75 and 635 in suburbs and ring cities.

“a company like that, doesn’t add to the moxie of the brand. They need what we’ll call ‘home run there’s density, access young says.

“If you think about located, it’s the natural sion,” arnold says. “From it’s in central america, can serve a wide area.” go online foR moRe Retail ne W s lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/retail

RobeRt e Young JR., managing diRectoR of the Weitzman gRoup

The Weitzman Group is a commercial retail estate brokerage firm leasing 41 million square feet of retail properties throughout Texas. Cencor Realty Services, its property management and development arm, manages 20.5 million square feet of retail space throughout Texas’ major markets of Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.