RCS Real Estate Advisors began its partnership with Cole Haan in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the premium lifestyle brand, operating more than 500 stores worldwide, sought experienced guidance to strengthen its retail real estate portfolio amid ongoing market uncertainty. What started as an initiative to manage lease renewals, select expansions, and portfolio optimization quickly evolved into a deep advisory relationship, positioning RCS as an embedded extension of Cole Haan’s retail real estate team.
From the outset, RCS guided the company through critical real estate decisions as the business rebounded after COVID-19 and demand surged. The team oversaw end-to-end lease negotiations, evaluated market opportunities, and ensured alignment between real estate strategy and the retailer’s broader operational goals.
In the past year, RCS has supported Cole Haan’s retail real estate growth strategy. This includes the rollout of a new lifestyle-driven prototype that debuted in the Flatiron District of New York City and has aided the team in replicating this concept at Tysons Corner Center in Fairfax County, VA, Roosevelt Field in Garden City, NY, and Lenox Square in Atlanta, GA.
Today, as Cole Haan accelerates its growth trajectory, RCS is guiding the retailer toward its goal of 30–40 new store openings over the next few years in premium North American markets, with a strategic focus on best-in-class, super-regional centers and high-visibility street-level retail. This partnership illustrates RCS’s ability to deliver stability, strategic foresight and measurable results through periods of industry disruption. By combining deep retail expertise with proactive portfolio management, RCS has helped position Cole Haan for sustained expansion, underscoring the enduring value of a trusted real estate advisor.