Tom Bruss

Principal - Retail Brokerage
 414-249-2220

Expertise

  • Retail Brokerage
  • Tenant Representation
  • Land Acquisition

Tom Bruss began his commercial real estate career in 1994 at Commercial Property Associates, Inc., which at the time was a small boutique commercial real estate company specializing in retail.  In 2004 he, along with Jon Thoresen and Nick Tice, purchased majority share of the company and grew it to become one of the largest retail real estate companies in Southeast Wisconsin.  In February 2017, he was integral in the creation of Founders 3, which merged Siegel Gallagher Management, RFP Commercial and Commercial Property Associates.  Founders 3 is currently the largest independently owned full service Commercial Real Estate Company in Wisconsin.

Tom has been extremely active in the real estate community, having served on the executive committee from 2012 - 2021 for the Retail Brokers Network, as well as being president of the organization in 2019.  He has served on the board of directors for the Commercial Association of Realtors in Southeast Wisconsin from 2016 - 2018 and has been an active member of ICSC since 1994.

Career Highlights

  • Areas of expertise for retailers and food operations include market analysis, competitor assessment, market development plans, demographic analysis, traffic pattern assessment, site selection, lease/contract negotiation, strategic planning and retail development consulting
  • Areas of expertise for third-party leasing include property assessment, property repositioning, trade area analysis, leasing plan development, merchandise and tenant mix analysis and LOI negotiation 
  • Clients: Arby's, Chase Bank, Davita Dialysis, Cheddars Casual Cafe, Chili's, Maggiano's, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Slim Chickens, Lane Bryant, Firehouse Subs, Wingstop, Learning Center, Shoe Sensation, Kindercare, Sola Salons, Goodfeet, Naf Naf Grill, Advance Auto Parts, Moe's Southwest Grill, C&G Financial, Light RX, Rue 21, Schlotzsky's Deli
  • Active member of the Retail Brokers Network (RBN)
  • Member of the Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC)
  • Appointed to the board of directors of the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW) in 2019