In this episode of Masters of Moments, I sit down with Chris Hatch, Principal at Forza Commercial, to break down the high-stakes world of retail real estate development. Chris grew up in a real estate family, learning the business from the ground up, and those early lessons shaped how he approaches site selection, deal structuring, and scaling development projects today.

We dive into:

Chris also shares behind-the-scenes stories from working with national tenants like Starbucks, Dutch Bros, and Raising Cane’s, explaining what makes a high-performing retail site and how shifting consumer trends are influencing real estate decisions.

If you're interested in commercial real estate, retail development, or the business of site selection, this episode is packed with insights from someone who’s been in the trenches and built a highly successful development business.

Connect & Invest with Jake:

Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak

1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching

Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo

Links:

Links:

Chris on X - https://x.com/chriswhatch

The Dirt Dog Podcast on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0EyUYpLUMbJKqEzprNuLPM?si=e48d7ffc5ddb48a0

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:00:56) - Chris’ Background and Career

(00:05:36) - The Magic of Drive-Thrus

(00:07:03) - Lessons from Early Real Estate Experiences

(00:09:41) - Navigating the Real Estate Market

(00:11:04) - The Evolution of Site Selection

(00:13:35) - Building a Real Estate Portfolio

(00:17:05) - Challenges and Strategies in Real Estate Development

(00:32:44) - The Appeal of Triple Net Leases

(00:40:53) - Retail Trends and Market Shifts

(00:41:34) - Diversification in Retail Investments

(00:43:38) - The Future of Gas Stations

(00:45:07) - Impact of Cloud Kitchens

(00:46:54) - Cap Rates and Popular Retail Tenants

(00:50:36) - Challenges in Retail Development

(00:58:38) - Managing Multiple Development Projects

(01:15:50) - Favorite Hotels and Closing Thoughts