I've always loved retail gossip—what new store is going where, which restaurants are opening soon, the newest hotel in the area…It's not just about finding new places to eat and drink (though I enjoy a night out as much as anyone).

 

What truly excites me is watching neighborhoods I know and love (and own real estate) evolve.

 

That's why I subscribe to the following e-mail newsletters: Found, Eater, the Eastsider, and Infatuation. If you have any additional recommendations, let me know.

 

And I'm constantly bothering my commercial leasing guys, sending photos of vacant storefronts with the question: "What's going in here?"

 

They say when you buy stock, you own a piece of a company—a share of Apple gives you access to their patents, engineers, and reputation. Similarly, when you buy a house, you invest in a piece of a neighborhood.

Restaurant and store news can give you an inside track as both a buyer and an investor. The maxim is "commercial follows residential," but it's often the opposite in my experience on the Eastside.

 

Commercial developers and tenants operate on longer timelines—no one signs a 20-year restaurant lease without doing their research. So when businesses catering to gentrifying demographics (think Home State Tacos or GGET Coffee) move in, it's usually a safe bet.

 

So keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground. That vacant storefront might just be tomorrow's hottest brunch spot—a signal that property values are rising. You're not just finding new favorite hangouts; you're gaining valuable insight that could inform your next real estate move.

 

Also, akin to Lori and Real Housewives, I'm always available to gossip about local neighborhood news, so call/email/text me with that hot eastside tea.

Until next week,