Jeff Sutton (real estate developer)

Jeff Sutton (born 1960) is a billionaire New York real estate developer and the founder of Wharton Properties.

Jeff Sutton
Born	1960 (age 59–60)
Nationality	American
Education	University of Pennsylvania
Occupation	Real estate developer
Known for	Founder of Wharton Properties
Net worth	US$4.1 billion (November 2019) [1]
Children	5

Early life

Jeff Sutton was born to a Sephardi Syrian Jewish family,[2][3] in Gravesend, Brooklyn, the son of an importer of retail goods.[4] In 1981,[4] he graduated with a B.A./B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.[1]

Career

Wanting to get into New York real estate and lacking the funding to compete with the old established real estate families (e.g. Dursts, Roses, Fishers, Rudins, Tishmans, and the Lefraks), Sutton took a different tack: he would first find a potential tenant, determine where they wanted a store, and then seek to buy out the lease from the tenant at the location. In some cases, he would buy out the landlord using the signed lease as support to secure financing in order to buy the property.[4][5] In the early 1990s, his strategy worked with Payless Shoes in upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. In the late 1990s, he applied the same approach with CVS Pharmacy in lower Manhattan partnering with New York City's largest landlord, SL Green Realty.[4] Sutton emphasizes securing triple-A national retail chains as tenants.[6]

Transactions

Significant properties include:[4]

• the American Eagle Outfitters store at the corner of Broadway and Houston Street;
• 717 Fifth Avenue with the Armani flagship store;
• 720 Fifth Avenue with the Abercrombie & Fitch store;
• 609 Fifth Avenue with the American Girl store;
• 1551 Broadway in Times Square with the American Eagle Outfitters flagship store;
• 1515 Broadway with the Aeropostale lease;
• 141 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron Building with the Cole Haan store;
• 379 West Broadway with the Polo Ralph Lauren store;
• 747 Madison Avenue with the Valentino flagship store; and
• 1552 Broadway, the site of the Times Square T.G.I. Friday's.

As of 2013, Wharton Properties owns 120 properties throughout New York City.[6][7]

Sutton's unique tactic of buying buildings from landlords and then gouging the new tenants with grossly inflated rental rates has lead to the mallification of New York City, turning what were once thriving local neighborhoods filled with independent businesses into shopping centers filled with chain stores. He often works in partnership with Joe Sitt's Thor Equities with the two selling buildings between each other and profiting off the differences.[8]

Personal life

Sutton is married and has five children.[1] In June 2013, he purchased a residential property on the Jersey Shore for $22.6 million.[9]

References

1. "Forbes profile: Jeff Sutton". Forbes. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
2. The Real Deal: "Clans with Plans" By Adam Pincus February 1, 2011
3. The Real Deal: "The Syrian retail touch - An inside look at the Syrian Jewish investors dominating NYC retail — from Sutton to Sitt, including how much revenue they’re pulling in" By Adam Pincus January 01, 2014
4. New York Observer: "Sutton’s Place: Finding the King of New York Retail" By Tom Acitelli August 24, 2011
5. The Real Deal: "Hiding in plain sight - Jeff Sutton's buildings are everywhere and his portfolio may be worth $1 billion, but you'd never know it" By Adam Pincus December 01, 2010
6. Wharton Properties website: "Jeff Sutton" retrieved November 2, 2013
7. Massey Knakal website: "4th Annual Massey Knakal CRE Investment Summit - Keynote Speaker: Jeff Sutton" retrieved November 2, 2013
8. [https://therealdeal.com/2018/10/17/sutton-sitt-score-305m-refi-for-530-broadway/ Sutton, Sitt score $305M refi for 530 Broadway] retrieved August 12, 2020
9. The Sephardic Community Alliance: "Building our Future by Preserving the Past" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine September 2009