Businesses Seeking Success will Cater to Local Needs, says Real Estate Pro Joshua Kurstin

Fresh fish prepared on-site and in the style of Hawaiian dishes – it’s become a popular option around the Washington, D.C. area. The arrival of a second Poke it Up location in the D.C. metro area — the first being Pentagon City’s — means this company is here to stay and Joshua Kurstin is proud of that fact. As a commercial real estate veteran in the Maryland, Virginia and D.C. area, Josh has helped a number of corporate clients find the footprint that’s right for them. Poke it Up, and its sandwich shop neighbor Zoup!, will both be worthy additions. That’s because those living in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington County as well as daytime workers on a lunch break will be able to make the most of two new eateries.

According to a 2019 report from WTOP.com, Poke it Up is taking about 1,700 square feet within the Arlington Square building along N. Fairfax Drive. Previously, office space within Arlington Square had been leased by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service up until it moved out in 2014. The University of Phoenix had also leased available space in the building and Josh Kurstin represented the educational institution in the most-recent agreement with Poke it Up/Zoup! Additional parties that were involved in the commercial real estate deal included H&R Retail, which represented the landlord; Brookfield Property Partners; Paraclete Realty, which represented Zoup! and HUSB Commercial Real Estate Services, which represented Poke it Up.

Josh Kurstin notes that for companies considering an expansion within or move to the D.C. metro area, the deal as outlined above is one that’s frequently carried out. The economic engine of the area is its corporate offices and the workers in the area need dining options that fit the bill on both weekdays and weekends. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that some 3.3 million people worked in the close-knit Washington, Arlington, Alexandria area as of October 2019. What’s more, that total was a bump of about 52,000 compared to the same time in 2018. To commercial real industry veterans like Joshua Kurstin, it’s a trend worth paying attention to. The companies that can cater to the needs of these workers are the ones that will see success over the long run in the DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. If your company plans to make this area its home for years to come, take Kurstin’s advice: finding a facility that meets unique needs starts with consulting with the local real estate professionals.