Aaron sits down with Chris Hatch, CEO of Forza Commercial, for a wide-ranging conversation on growing up in a multi-generational real estate family, surviving 2008 and COVID as a developer, and why resilience—not timing—is the real competitive advantage in commercial real estate. Chris shares how his grandfather’s early build-to-suits for brands like Arby's shaped his long-term perspective, how a two-year mission trip to New Jersey forged the discipline that later powered his brokerage career, and why walking every fast-food bathroom in a market might be the best education a young broker can get. From flipping U-turns on property tours to sourcing transformers through WhatsApp during supply chain chaos, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons from nearly 100 closed deals—and counting.
Key Takeaways:
• Resilience is built before you need it—early discipline compounds in business
• 2008 created fear; 2020–2023 created chaos—both shape smarter operators
• Development without stability in capital markets is a different sport
• Leasing and redevelopment are not the same as ground-up risk
• The best education in retail real estate comes from walking sites, not reading reports
• Mentorship shortens the learning curve—but only if you do the reps
• Stability—not politics—is what capital markets crave
Key Timestamps:
(00:00:00) – Growing Up in a Multi-Generational Real Estate Family
(00:02:30) – ADHD, Athletics, and the Competitive Edge
(00:06:55) – Two Years in New Jersey: Discipline and Drive
(00:12:00) – Why Brokerage Was the Starting Point
(00:18:00) – Pivoting During the 2008 Financial Crisis
(00:20:00) – First Acquisition and the Arby’s Deal
(00:23:30) – Launching Forza Development in 2020
(00:25:00) – COVID, Supply Chain Chaos, and Building Through Crisis
(00:33:00) – The Burrito That Became a Dutch Bros Deal
(00:36:30) – Advice for Young Brokers and Developers
Key Topics Discussed:
Commercial Real Estate Podcast, Private Equity Podcast, Franchising Podcast, Commercial Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Private Equity, Franchise Ownership, Real Estate Syndication, Capital Raising for Real Estate, Private Equity Fund Structure, Commercial Real Estate Development, Multifamily Investing, Alternative Investments, Breaking Into Commercial Real Estate, Private Equity Career Path, Franchise Growth Strategy, Investment Firm Leadership, Wealth Building Through Real Estate, Real Estate Asset Management, Institutional Real Estate Investing, CEO Interview Podcast, Limitless, Aaron Zucker, Retail Development, Net Lease Investing, Drive-Thru Real Estate, QSR Development, Build-to-Suit, Brokerage Mentorship, Multi-Generational Wealth, Commercial Real Estate Cycles, 2008 Financial Crisis, COVID Supply Chain, Ground-Up Development, Value-Add Retail, Mountain State Real Estate, Capital Markets Stability, Tenant Representation, Franchise Growth, Real Estate Resilience, Leadership Through Crisis, Developer Mindset, Market Cycles, Entrepreneurial Grit, Discipline and Performance, Commercial Property Management, Forza Commercial, Chris Hatch, Limitless Podcast, Aaron Zucker
Mentions:
Chris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-hatch-5b100711/
Mentions: The Dirt Dog Pod
More of Limitless:
Web: zuckerinvestmentgroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-zucker-zig/
IG: @zuckerinvestmentgroup
X: @ZIG_CRE